"Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death on the battlefield in service to Sparta is the greatest glory he can achieve in his life."
― Dilios, 300
Chapter 11
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Luna slowly awoke and opened her eyes. She groggily looked around and noticed Twilight and Apple Jack had left for Manehatten as planned, although Spike had decided to stay behind to try and help keep things organized. She smiled before remembering why she was laying where she was. The chaos of the past day unfolded in her mind and she saddened a bit.
She slowly stood up, while thinking about what she would do. There wasn’t really anything to eat. Everything had happened so fast no one had thought about food or supplies. She sighed and decided to start by putting some protections on the ancient castle the 8 of them now called home. She focused her energy on the task at hand and crafted a warning system, protective bubble, and a few booby traps.
After she finished the princess turned around to find everypony still asleep aside from Derpy. The gray pegasus was sitting quietly in front of Luna, one eye watching her, the other lazily drifting throughout the room. Luna broke the silence
“Nice to see somepony besides me rises early.” No response. Luna sighed.
“Today we need to gather supplies; we won’t last long without food or armor.” Luna said to nopony in particular. “We are so far outmatched, and outgunned its not even funny.” She continued becoming crestfallen. “Is there any possible way we can win? They have thousands of guards and more resources than most ponies can imagine. I’ll be surprised if we make it even a week.”
“Do you remember the war between the ponies and the griffins?” Derpy said after a moment.
“Well, yes. It was long and bloody. When they finally surrendered it felt like the summer sun celebration was happening in the streets of every city in Equestria.” The princess replied.
“Do you remember a specific battle involving a mountain pass where three hundred ponies held off the griffin army’s main advance.”
“Yes, I gave some of those ponies their metals myself.”
“They were vastly outnumbered and outgunned yet managed to hold back a huge assault until our main army could arrive. Do you know how?”
“Not really, I’m no general. Celestia and I have advisers for a reason.”
“They had huge advantages over their enemy. They had positioning, they had the most elite units at their disposal, but they had one thing more powerful than any other. A cause. A war without a cause is lost before it is started. If you have no reason to fight your better off not fighting at all. Fortunately we have a cause. We are fighting against the injustices to ponykind, and for our freedoms. Once other ponies find out what is going on we won’t be insanely outnumbered, in fact I wouldn’t be surprised if we were the larger force. Once we have the ponies everything else will follow.
As she finished her pep talk Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity began to wake. After a few minutes of ponies wandering around half awake Luna called a meeting between all ponies present.
“This meeting is regarding our current state.” The princess began. “As you all know we are outnumbered, and outgunned. We need supplies and ponies for us to stand any chance. As we speak Twilight, Apple Jack and Spike are out trying to gather followers. We need to be ready for when they start sending ponies back. We need to start gathering metals that we can make armor out of. I know that there is an abandoned mine east of here so we should start there for that. As far as food goes we either need to take some from the towns surrounding or find it in the forest. Any other thoughts?”
“What about information?” Rarity brought up. “We need to know what Celestia and her forces are doing if we are to plan accordingly.”
“I wish we had a pony on the inside.” Luna thought out loud.
“What about Zecora?” Began Pinkie Pie. “I mean she’s on the inside right now! If we had a way of talking with her she could tell us everything! I’m sure that Celestia would take her in right away! She wouldn’t want her poking around.”
“Who?” the night princess asked.
“Oh, Twi was going to write a book about her so Zecora was moving to ponyville but then this happened so I guess the book will be a little delayed.” Pinkie giggled. “She would be superty duperty perfect for what we need! I can talk to her when I sneak into ponyville for supplies!” Rarity raised an eyebrow.
“You're going to sneak in?” The white unicorn asked. Nopony could even imagine the pink pony sneaking past a corpse no less a large portion of the equestrian military.
“Of course! I snuck into sugar cube corner all the time when I was younger and had a curfew. It’s easy as cake! Or maybe pie? Which do you think is easier to bake?!”
“Why don’t you get ready to sneak in now Pinkie so you're ready to go tonight?” Derpy said, trying her hardest to stop the pink pony from talking. Pinkie laughed.
“Oh silly, it doesn’t need to be night! I’m just gonna go sneak in right now and see what's going on. Be back soon!” And with a dust cloud she was gone.
“How that pony could do anything covertly is beyond me.” Rarity said.
“Oh it’s Pinkie Pie, I stopped trying to understand anything about her a long time ago.” Fluttershy stated. “Oh, I’m sorry were you trying to say something?”
“Fluttershy keep watch” Luna ordered me and Derpy will head to the mine to start gathering ore for armor and Rarity will stay behind in case Twilight starts sending ponies our way. By the way Rarity when they get here try to have them start cleaning up the rubble and such, we can use it for barricades and such later.” And with that, all the ponies started their jobs.