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The Night Guard are as efficient as they are enigmatic, but it takes the curiosity of a recruit to discover that some things are simply best left unsaid.
Fic is rated Teen for dark content and brief mentions of violence, hate crimes, and death.
Featured on Equestria Daily! Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, and commented!
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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
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For anyone curious, the term 'opliptera' is based upon the word 'chiroptera', which is the order that bats fall under. 'Chiroptera' is derived from the Greek words 'cheir' and 'pteron', which mean 'hand' and 'wing' respectively. This obviously doesn't apply to the bat ponies (since ponies don't have hands anyways), so I had to make some modifications. 'Opli' is a very rough translation of the Greek word for 'hoof', and so that replaced 'chiro', thus creating 'opliptera' - 'hoofwing', essentially. I know it sounds rather silly, but it was the closest I could get to a proper name for the bat ponies. You know, besides calling them 'bat ponies'.
omg f1rst!!11
Easily one of the more solic fics on this site conceptually. I am a huge fan.
Faaaanntastic!
I guess I'll have to read this later.
fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/285/2/7/not_bad_pinkie_pie_edition_by_spiderbro-d4co0ah.png
493507 I do love a good neologism. And that, my friend, is a good neologism.
This was also a good story. Consider it loaded into my headcanon.
Interesting take on the Lunar guard, though there's some vocabulary in there that not everypony will know. A "Neophyte" can have serveral meanings, though yes it does mean a new recruit to a religious order most of the time. I got a very Rahz Al Ghoul vibe from Noctis at the end when she said "what must be done". It sounded a lot like "doing what is necessary" from Batman Begins, haha.
I myself am working on a Lunar Stallion fic right now, maybe you can swing by if you get a minute.
Another beautiful piece, Vargras. Another deserved feather in your crowded literary cap, and it's a complimentary plume to be sure.
and now my headcanon has a new addition if you dont mind
A neat old origins story. Good, but... well, forgettable. Dunno if that's the right word. It's not incompetently written, I just... can't quite seem to put my finger on it. Could be a case of "not my cup of tea", tbh.
Very nice story. I have always had a soft spot for stories of the guards, and this is no exception. I actually thought the species name was rather clever (as I myself could never find a term that I felt that would stick.) The last line was very much open to what it could mean. They could be the "Dark Knights" hated when they needed to be, but there when needed. Or quite simply they are great fighters, and excellent at what they do.
I am sure I am over analyzing this. Having replayed Dark Souls recently, where the orders in-game are old, but not really all spelled out either, has left me hungry for more lore. So, forgive me for that.
Great story as always!
498708
I intentionally left the ending open like that, but there's a few things it could hint at.
A very cool take on the Night Guards.
I loved this piece. It was beautifully and artistically written! In a lot of ways, the story of the opliptera reminds me of that of the Roma and Traveller societies. The open ended aspect is really neat. Great work!
494093 Ditto headcanonized with impunity.
493507
You did your homework all right, and it shows. I truly am impressed.
493507
Now I'm wondering if I can borrow Noctis for my own fic. You will be credited, of course.
502848
That's fine. I had someone else already PM me and ask if Ferous could make a cameo in their fic.
Unless it's for a clopfic. If it is, I'm saying no.
503028
Don't worry. I don't do clop. You have my word.
Here, let me give you an "I've enjoyed this" face...
img.ponibooru.org/_images/e8ff42a0a5fbe1df168c7cf33e6a04f6/111414%20-%20animated%20rarity.gif
Ok, MY "I've enjoyed this" face
I could have sworn I was watching you. Apparently not
.
Your fics are awesome, and I quite enjoyed your take on the bat ponies. Thank you for sharing!
Oh Yes, instant win there needs to be more Guardspony stories.
so what exaclty happned after the scene ended, did the night gaurd kill the gaurdsman, or was he left alone???
Sequel.
Want.
SO BAD
You know, I've always considered the night guards to be thestrals. In Harry Potter, the character Luna Lovegood is able to see thestrals, which are winged horse like creatures associated with death. They have leathery bat like wings, and faces with reptilian features (in MLP, the guards have dragon like eyes, also a reptilian feature). They can be domesticated, and remain very loyal to their masters. In Harry Potter, they can only be seen by those who have witnessed death. They have an overall, grim appearance.
So, yeah... That's how I always interpreted it. Princess Luna vs Luna Lovegood. Thestrals from Harry Potter, vs the thestral Lunar Guards. It just always fit right to me. Given how much the show's creators enjoy their pop culture references, I can't even say it surprises me.
images.wikia.com/harrypotter/images/8/87/Thestral_on_land.gif
506536
The ending is meant to be open to interpretation. I won't say what did or didn't happen.
506829
MAYBEEEEE. I don't know yet.
507013
Good enough for me
I've always been fascinated by the Lunar or Night Guard, as they are called. Perhaps that is is born from the notion that I am writing a story circling around one myself, but... let's get to it, shall we?
I expected such a story to be a tragic one, and it wasn't just because of the story tag. I never imagined the Night Guard to be glorified but vilified, and you didn't disappoint. Their story is one of estrangement and prejudice, and of fallen glory. To see how beautifully you spun the Royal Sisters into lore and intertwined the opliptera with it... it was amazing. Forsaken for their appearance alone, taken and trained to be the best by the Lady of the Night, and torn asunder in the Endless Night...
They endure because they can endure, keeping faith that they would find salvation.
I'm glad I read this, Vargras. Perhaps I stray in my own headcanon on the Lunar/Night Guard, but your interpretation, your story is still something I found... powerful in more ways than one.
Thank you kindly,
Adder1
I really like this. It gives depth not only to the bat-ponies, but also to Equestria as a whole. I am very fond of such "slice of life" stories that have a hint of "mythology" added to them.
Story-wise, I came across no errors or awkward phrasings that halted the flow. In fact, the story works perfectly well, especially the open ending. I sincerely don't understand the urges of the people for a sequel, as this story -- although with an open ending -- wraps up itself nicely.
You were able to build a strong plot (their past) on top of a shitty premise (have a talk) and you conducted it with mastery. This is truly one great fanfic that, if I may, should be considered fanon as to Equestrian past.
*sniffle*
That was pretty damn awsome.
Very nicely written. A brilliant theory as too who the Night Guard are, as well as their past. A very intriguing idea that a lot of people are going to like.
Fury of the Tempest fav's this story.
506536
Why would she kill him?
A little disappointed that this is tagged as Complete. There's a lot of meat on dem bones.
508617
I'm aware of it, but my plate is rather full for now, and this was an idea that simply popped into my head and was begging to be written down. I might return to it at a later date.
508643
It stands alone quite well, of course, and I do think there's an argument to be made in not jumping the shark, as it were.
that last line :O great story
I love the way you've made this sound. It's conversational in its tone, and the sentences descriptive.
The only fault I can think of is the inherent difficulty in lynching a creature capable of flight.
521397
Not as difficult as it might seem when you've got a mob backing you up. All that's needed is to catch them by surprise.
Look like more headcanon for me!
"Ferous" is an odd name. Should it be "Ferrous"?
563065
Nope! The name was intentionally spelled that way.
563190 What's its etymology? The only result Google pulls up is a Latin suffix, but with the emphasis on the latter syllable it would make for an awkward given name.
563218
It's just based upon 'Ferrous', as you said. That, by itself, seemed like an odd name to me, so I simply lopped off an R. It's still pronounced the same way.
Fascinating read, I'll be adding it to my head-canon as well. I'd like to think that they became good friends after this but for some reason I keep thinking Ferous gets killed for knowing too much.
The idea behind this (very well-written, mind you!) story seems quite thought-out and very fitting (almost canon-possible). Congrats on it and thanks for sharing the story.
493507
planning on eventually writing a TON of bat-pony stuff, so if you don't mind, I'll credit you with any mentions to the word, though it would probably only come up around Twilight
*slow applaud*
Lovely. Just... lovely. The tone, the mood, the flow, the language... it was brilliant.
Exquisite, well done.
It's good.
It's good, but I continue to be surprised that people assume anything other than that the bat-wings were a costume. Not that I have any issue in that regard, just genuinely surprised. I went completely the other way and built my story as just ordinary guards called on to work for Luna. I find it makes them for characterful.
Sill, while it's a little cliche, it's for a good reason. The concept is a solid one that has worked for many of the best genres and worlds. I'm a big fan of the Scorpion clan, for example, and yes, Raz Al Goul (or however it's spelt).
Most importantly, out of everything, you didn't try and overplay the story as anything other than it actually was. That happens so much it irritates me, and you avoided the most common pitfall of FiMFiction, in my opinion.
The other story is logged for later consumption.
-Scott