A Word from Their Majesties
Hello reader.
When Twilight Sparkle wrote to me about how no pony in her current home of Ponyville knew who Star-Swirl the Bearded was, which my sister Luna confirmed, I was shocked. Star-Swirl was without a doubt the wisest and most powerful unicorn mage of his time, and certainly on par with very few in all of history. Furthermore, for the brief time I knew him, he was one of the friendliest ponies I have ever met, and so the thought of him becoming forgotten disturbed me. In the further outlying provinces and on the frontier sure, after all, education is secondary when survival is on the line, but not so close to the capitol. If anypony deserves even the slightest eternal recognition, it is him.
Twilight recommended that she set up and teach a community college class on Equestrian history. It was a thoughtful gesture. However, I thought that something longer lasting, and more readily accessable, than a three-hour a week course would be more appropriate given the subject matter, and given the long history that Equestria’s story possesses, something which also had a little brevity would work as well. Therefore, I suggested that Twilight, along with scholars from the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Ministry of Education, write a book detailing the subject.
And so my little pony, I trust that you treat the knowledge that has been entrusted to you with care, because Knowledge, much like Friendship, holds so much magic.
-With love, Lady Princess Celestia, Ruler of the Equestrian Day
Salyutashons faire reedre
Hafinge bin gon theese past 1000 years, I hast much to groweth use too. The times changeth much en mein absense frome the worlde. I stil rememmbre quen Ecuestria was bute a skatred collekshon of smal statelets, waytinge too ter eashothre aparte ef nought fore my sistre and I holdinge there leadres lishes taught.
Und now Ecuestria es a vast land. Singuler in ets identitie, and the plase of one’s birthe es no matter. Exceptinge fore the few oferlie proud und boastfule.
The storey of Ecuestria es a most exsitinge taile my leettl ponies, and should bee cherished leik a rare yem.
- Ut vobis requiem bene. Domina-Principem Luna, Dictatrix Speciosam Nocte
Middle English is Fun English. Don't know how to spell something? Make it up! If you can make a reader go 'seems legit,' you're good.
However, as Luna is still using somewhat modern spelling for most of the shorter words, it's probable that a professional Linguist would still consider this Early Modern English. Late Middle English at best.
What I put into the Magic Google Translate for Luna's signiture was "May you rest well. Lady-Princess Luna, Dictator of the Beautiful Night." When I put what that gave me back in to reconvert to English, it comes out "May you rest well. The lady-moon, the dictator Beautiful Night." Not to bad. could be worse.
AND BEFORE ANY FANS GRIPE: Dictator was originally the Roman term for an Absolute Ruler, and bore no negative connotations. Since it was often given in times of termoil to Cincinatus types who willingly gave up power after about a year (ten if times were especially bad), it was often considered a GOOD title for one's ruler to have.
Then we got a punch of douchebags who used and abused the title and so messed it up forever. FOREEVERR!!
Not quite middle English, but close enough that I could read it all and then speak it in a middle english accent (which is best accent )
Quite interesting.
It's like a bizarre collision between Middle English, 'in the future, spelling will be standardized' sci-fi jargon, and an unidentified Eastern European accent.
Excellent 'ye olde English' there.
Was that some kind of Friendship is witchcraft reference?
... you'd think an editor would have taken care of that second part.
887812 But then he/she would be denying readers a chance to pick up a guide to Ye Old Ponese to translate it themselves.
Personally, I am not fond of the "middle-English" text. It doesn't really make sense in an edited work, and sort of makes Luna seem unintelligent. It is also difficult to read, I just skipped over it.
As for the rest, very interesting concept.
Nice touch having Luna's addition being in old English, though I think you laid it on a bit thick.
I was going to comment on how her writing is very similar in appearance to German. Then I remembered that English is a Germanic language in origin.
And while an editor probably could have fixed that up for Luna, it feels more authentic that way.
Part of me thought the old english was buchered.
The other part soon after realized that this sounded rather like Friendship Is Witchcraft's Luna, and both parts settled down for a good read. Now onward I go, to the next chapter!
I also liked the Celestia letter; I could easily hear her voice reading it aloud in my head.
527442 After a month and a half, I finally find your fic. I forgot how I found out about it but meh. As an unofficial "Standartenführer" for the GN, Luna's spelling hurts to read.
I started off liking the olde englishe spelling, but it seems that you slipped in some German accent stuff. I would suggest picking one, researching it and getting rid of the stuff that doesn't fit that feel
1826873 The older the English, the more German it sounds. They are related languages, after all.
Ha! I hope Princess Luna's note was a reference to the lack of uniform written language pre-dictionary! If it wasn't, still a nice touch!
Post script: 527442
The first dictator was the Roman general Sulla in 88B.C.E. who declared himself dictator in an attempt to quell the turmoil in Rome caused by their senates failure to act on their promises. He willing gave up the title once order was restored nine years later, but the republican constitution never recovered due to its failure to meet the empire's needs.
THE MORE YOU KNOW!!!
This seems interesting so far, guess back then they didn't have standardized spelling back then.
Never mind that no pony in Equestria knew who Luna was...