//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Rising Storm // Story: The 300 Ponies // by AppleBucker22 //------------------------------// “What do you mean?”, Asked Leonidas’ wife, “What kind of storm?” “The smoke I saw on the outskirts of Equestria, it was them... They are already at the borders. We have to consult the Ephors!” The Ephors.. Inbred ponies.. Legend has is it they descended from the original kings of Ponyville, and no king has ever gone to war without their permission. Leonidas climbed to the top of Delphi, to reach the Ephors. “Leonidas, we expected you!” ,A hooded pony welcomed Leonidas, “Come, let us go” As they arrived to the top of the mountain, they arrived at a dome, the sacred home of the Ephors, surrounded by nothing but starry skies. Leonidas spoke up, “The Remnants are on the warpath, we have to stop their march at the Gates of Paradise!” The Gates of Paradise was an ancient pass, where the ponies first marched through, to get to the land we today, call Equestria. Leonidas drew a battle plan in the pit of the sand with his hoof, “My plan is to amass an army and get over to The Gates of Paradise, stopping their naval attack. Wave by wave, Remnant soldiers will bounce off our shields.” “Leonidas, what are you offering us?”, Leonidas looked up at the Ephor Priest and dropped a bag of gold on the floor, “Now, about the attack...” “The full moon is arriving Leonidas, you know what that means. The Carnea approaches! No king has ever gone to war on this holiday!”   Leonidas got angry and yelled up at the Ephors, “PONYVILLE WILL BURN! HER CHILDREN WILL BURN, AND HER PEOPLE BECOME SLAVES TO THE REMNANTS!” “Nevertheless we must consult the Oracle..” The Ephors meant business, and it was against Leonidas to defy them. “We still have to consult the Oracle.” Saying that, the Ephors pulled out a bottle with smoke coming out of it, and it had a toxic smell. Inbred Ponies, Leper diseased ponies. Oracles were the finest women of Ponyville, taken away from their homes, to serve the Ephors as their Oracles. Even old men, have desires. The Oracle twitched, she looked like she was having a spasm. Finally, she calmed down, all sweaty she lied down on her pillow and spoke to the Ephor Priest. “Asha, saunad”, “Heed the wind...” “Sahua eashe” , “Ponyville will burn...” “Asasu asha”, “Honor the Gods....” “Besh alia” , “HONOR CARNEA” Leonidas was angry, he could not stand the Ephors anymore. He left there, and without the permission of the Ephors, he would’ve gone to war himself, the very first Ponyville Spartan in history to do so. The same night, Remnants gathered and visited the Ephors. Several dark ponies with piercings on the lips and eyebrows came up to the priest with a huge sack. They opened the sack and thousands of gold coins came out. “All you have to do is support the Remnants on their march and honor the god-king Xerxes.” The Ephor’s eyes glittered in the sight of all that gold, and their greed got the better of them. “You will have fresh Oracles delivered to you daily, from all over the world.” Said the dark pony “We agree to all your terms.” And by saying that, the Ephors bowed down to the Remnants. BACK IN PONYVILLE It was nighttime, and Leonidas’ thoughts overwhelmed by the decision of the Ephors. He looked at his fair city, and he thought he saw it all. The people enslaved and the buildings destroyed. He was disturbed by his wife, who came up to him and asked him what was going on. “Has the Oracle claimed your thoughts, dear?” “It will take more than a few words of a drunk pony, to change my mind.” “Why aren’t you sleeping then?” “I.... I just have a lot on my mind...” “Get some sleep, it will all make sense in the morning..” And so the night passed on, and morning came. Leonidas’ son came up to his father. “I’m.... Going away on a trip son.... “ His face turned sad, but ponyville men cannot show emotions, for it is unbecoming of them. “Will you come back dad?” “I... Don’t know my son.... I just want you to know that I am very proud of you. Continue your training, and you will make a fine warrior one day!” “Yes dad, good luck!” As Leonidas departed from his son, he went to the outskirts of Ponyville. Out there was his second of command, General Artemis was waiting for him, with a group of soldiers “Are those the ones I asked for?” Asked Leonidas. “Yes, 300 stallions, all have sons to continue on their duty” Artemis said “Perfect.” As Leonidas looked at his troops, he spotted Artemis’ son “Your son is here?” “Yes, he is a fine warrior, and we will make use of him.” “Are you sure about this?” “Have I ever been sure about anything?” Leonidas gave him a little chuckle and proceeded on. He looked at the gates of his city,  and he saw his 2 counsellors approach him. “Leonidas, what is this?” Asked Theron, a council member of the Spartan council “Nothing, what does it look like to you?” Leonidas said “It looks like you are preparing for war, Leonidas.” “A war? With 300 Ponies? Even you know our armies are not that strong! I am simply heading out for a stroll, and these 300 are my personal guard.” Theron looked at Leonidas suspiciously, but because he could not act out against his king, he let this one slip. Leonidas’ wife, Queen Gorgo approached him. “So, this is it...” “Yes, it is..” Said Leonidas “Are you coming back?” “I don’t know....” The Queen took off her necklace, and gave it to Leonidas. “Come back with your shield..... or on it..” He looked at her for some time, but because he could not show his affections, he walked away. She knew he loved her. “Spartan!” Leonidas’ wife said to him. They exchanged one last look, and with that, Leonidas’ departed As the spartan warriors marched on, they noticed a shadow on the horizon, a hunchback pony, wearing familiar armor. The ponyville warriors marched on, and during their march scouts came up to them: “Leonidas, a band of warriors is approaching your way!” “Everyone, stand guard!” As the warriors entered their formations, they stood still until Leonidas gave them the “all clear” sign. “Haha, the Arcadians, my old friends! How are you?” “Do not patronize us Leonidas, you know why we are here” Their leader said “We came here to battle the Remnant armies, I’m sure you saw the smoke at the Gates of Paradise. Our scouts say that Remnant armies are already in Equestria, and we must act quick, so we came to battle them.” Leonidas looked at the Arcadian soldiers, and spoke up: "You there, Arcadian, what is your profession?" “P-p-p-potter, sir.” “And you there! What is your profession?” “Blacksmith sir...” “SPARTAAAANS! WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION?” “HAAA-UHH, HAAA-UH!” “You see that Arcadian? Ponyville men are born warriors, not like your army of villagers.” “Leonidas...” ,General Artemis spoke up, “It would be... Useful for the Arcadians to accompany us... We are only 300 after all, they could be a good supporting unit.” Leonidas looked at his general for some time, when he finally made a decision: “Alright, Arcadians! Fall in line! We are heading for this village of yours!” As the Ponyville Warriors and Arcadian warriors marched on, they reached this village they’ve heard about. It was visible for miles. Clouds of black smoke coming up from the burning houses. The troops entered the village and looked around. “Leonidas!!” A soldier came up, carrying a small foal in his hooves. The foal was dirty, and had a lot of cuts on it. It was barely speaking. “What did you see?” Leonidas asked the foal. The foal barely spoke up: “It’s quiet now....They came from the blackness...The world we know.... Will never be the same...” This foal’s story shook up the spirits of the warriors, as they looked at each other wondering what the foal is talking about. “He speaks of ancient Remnant spirits. It is said that they come out of the darkness, striking when you least expect it.” The arcadian leader said. “Leonidas.... You have to see this...” The soldier was barely holding his lunch together after this sight. “Gods have mercy.....” Leonidas look at it with shock All of the warriors gazed upon it, the sign of Remnant cruelty. A giant X made out of the bodies from fallen ponies. “If this is what they do to the fallen, then we have no chance!” The Arcadian Warriors panicked, but were soon interrupted by Leonidas. “Silence! They will not do this to us. We will not let them! We should move on, we have to get the Gates of Paradise.” As they all left the village, the sculpture still stood there, as a mark of what the Remnants did. And it will not be forgotten...