Twilight and the Spartan Stallion
Part 2: Meeting the Princess

The phalanx of Spartan Stallions lined up in perfect unison. Their shields raised and then slammed down into the ground to serve as extra support. Each armored stallion covered the fellow to his left from hoof to neck. Pressed in so closely together with their spears poking forward between the shields, they looked like a golden wall. They waited while the slathering, gnashing, beastly Lunar Stallions charged across the field towards them.

“STAL-YUHHHNS! NOT ONE INCH FOR THEM! NOT ONE!” Spartan Shield roared over the coming din and confusion of the enemy. Like so many battling, screeching, tittering ants they swept over the battlefield. “This is where we fight!” Spartan Shield raised the banner of Canterlot, the united symbols of earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi. “This is where they die!” He slammed the banner through into the ground, symbolizing the stand they were making. Chips of stone scattered from the forceful thrust. Behind them, beyond the canyon they were wedged in? Canterlot herself. All of their wives, their leaders and their loved ones. It was up to them to give the last breath to stop the oncoming evil. If not them, it would be nopony standing between the Lunar Army and the massacre they would herald.

Spartan Shield could smell them already. The stink of the ungroomed stallion sweat. The slathering spittle of the wild. The chalky, nasty cracks in their over-sized hooves. Mutated monsters of the dark, every single one of them. The Lunar Stallions came ever closer while they watched, howling and whinnying and pitching themselves over small rocks to keep pace. Spartan Shield slammed his helm over his head, stepping down from the boulder where he’d planted their banner. “Your Majesty!” he shouted over the din of the stampede headed their way. “Your path is open! We will hold the tide here, for Canterlot!”

Celestia looked down at her Spartan Stallion leader. Her thick, armored regalia glittered in the firelight. She nodded solemnly. As her vast, gilded wings slowly opened, she struck her massive hoof lightly against his round shield. “Come back with your shield, stallion. If not, come back on it.” She bade him. It was the Spartan Stallion way to come back from battle victorious, or to not come back at all. Victory, or death. He bowed his head low, and the alicorn launched herself into the sky. Shoving his way roughly to the front line, not a leader to stand behind his troops, Spartan Shield put out his shield to join the phalanx wall. He set his spear on the tiny notch between shields, lowering his scowl into a teeth-clenching grimace. A Spartan Stallion showed no fear, had no regrets. Never quit. Never surrendered. He looked to his left and right, smirking at his fellow soldiers. Never would it be said that Spartan Shield did not fight with his ponies. He was right there on the front line, in the thick of it all.

The Lunar Stallions were coming. The phalanx waited, a shining wall of gold in the darkness.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1,002 Years Later….
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Spartan Shield stepped out of the museum, then jolted to a stop and peered around. “I hath emerged at the time of the Olympics!” he said, astounded. “Everypony is naked, showing off their bodies!” he pointed wildly as the street traffic went back and forth. In ancient times, athletes were known to do such to inform the public of their prowess. But, just about everypony on the street was nude, astounding! Spartan Shield peered around to check out the competition as they walked down the sidewalk. “A paltry few seem ready for such strain, though.” he winced when he passed a rather dumpy mare who was helping herself to a banana split under an umbrella at a picnic table. “Most of them would be decimated in any arena of physical activity!”

Twilight Sparkle had had time to calm down since they’d exited the exhibit and worked their way down the street. She’d have to be patient if he really was what he said he was. If Spartan Shield was from the Greek and Roman era of Equestria, he was in for some serious culture shocks. “Are you okay?” Twilight said over her shoulder.

“What Olympics is this? What number?” he asked her, gesturing around to all the naked ponies. Suddenly a gaggle of foals ran by, laughing and frolicking with a large ball between them. “And since when did foals participate?!” he pointed accusingly at them as they went by. His muscles rippled at the harsh gesture, and the quartet of guards halted for a few moments to make sure he wasn’t’ about to attack anypony.

“The Olympics?” Twilight wondered. “That’s not until this November. It’s June right now, Spartan Shield.” He stared at her in disbelief. She stared back, blinking in confusion. He turned forward after a few long moments of silence, turning sharply up a street that led to a dead end. “It’s this way.” Twilight walked past him.

“I must have been gone for a long time.” Spartan scowled at the setup of buildings he did not recognize. “Canterlot, she has aged into a mare I know not.” He gestured to a theatre that stood in the middle of where a street was supposed to be, in his mind’s eye. “I only pray Her Shining Immortal Majesty is not sore with me upon my arrival.” His eyes lidded with mild fear. Princess Celestia had always been very rough with the Spartan Stallions. They loved her for it, and she knew they could take it, but she was also harsher with her punishments. “I know not the outcome of the battle I was in…” he trailed off, looking troubled.

“Could you describe it?” Twilight asked, hoping perhaps her love of history and ancient culture might help.

He looked at her for a moment, but then remembered she was a powerful Solar Pony and trusted his discontent to her. “We were pressed between the Sore Saddle Canyon’s gates, just outside of Canterlot. Three hundred and thirty-seven Spartan Stallions, against an army of Lunar Stallions and Nightmare Moon. Her Majesty Princess Celestia was with us, as well.” Her articulated all the details he could remember.

“Sore Saddle Canyon? I’ve never heard of it.” Twilight frowned thoughtfully. “There aren't canyons outside of Canterlot, either. It’s a green, lush valley. I live down there, too, that’s where Ponyville is.”

“Pony-ville?” Spartan Shield tasted the word. “Another weak name. Thy ancestors must’ve scorned their descendants, naming their town, thus. How about squirrel-town? Or Rabbitton?” he chuckled at his own joke, and she shoved his shoulder to keep him moving quickly.

“Shut up.” She said lamely, ears turning back in embarrassment. It was a really silly name, when she thought about it. Other towns and cities had interesting names like Las Pegasus, Manehatten, and Appleoosia. Who named their town after the species that lived there? She sighed, knowing him right. The name was kinda weak. “We’re almost there.” Her face brightened when she saw the gigantic palace entrance she knew so well. She’d grown up in and around the place, so she knew it well.

Spartan Shield cocked his head all the way back. “Sweet Celestia’s TEATS!” he swore aloud, turning quite a few heads at the colorful language. “What is this monstrosity!?” he shouted, pointing up at the palace. “All of those towers would take but a single catapult shot to bring down! It doth be balanced like a house of cards!”

“That would be the royal palace, Spartan.” Twilight said, already annoyed with him again. Her cheeks pinkened at his referral to Celestia’s... bits, but she chose to ignore it. He wouldn’t react properly if she got upset. “Princess Celestia lives there.”

“I know that!” Spartan Shield said angrily, looking over at her. “But it hast changed so much! Where are the thick walls?! The columns?! The carved victories of battle and festival tablets?!” he gestured back and forth, ranting and raving as they entered the grand hall. They kept onward while the muscled stallion gestured back and forth. Servants stopped to stare at him while he went, for his voice carried on like an echo in the high-ceiling’d passages. He stopped to look at a nicely-carved flower pot that sat on a little end table. It hosted water and some pretty pink flowers. A young mare was standing there with them, arranging the flowers to look just right for display. Spartan Shield wandered up next to her, then snapped his hoof up at the pot. “That’s wrong too!” he roared, making her mane flap backward like a wild banner. She looked at him in shock, then at her flower arrangement, then her pupils got big and soft. She whimpered, and her ears turned back as he wandered away.

Twilight stopped to comfort her. “H-he’s not from around here, don’t pay him any attention. Please.” She patted the poor upset mare’s withers. She whimpered a little, but nodded, striding quickly away so nopony could see her cry. Twilight quickly rushed to catch up with her strange charge, “You really upset that mare, you know! You should apologize to her!”

“Neigh.” He said nonchalantly. “I’ve almost come to the throne room, Her Immortal Shining Majesty is far more important than some servant girl!” with a triumphant shove, he threw open a pair of great double doors. Twilight saw the muscles in his back and shoulder blades coil. Normally it took two ponies to open doors so big at that speed. Impressive. “Your Majesty! I hath returned!” he shouted… to an empty dining room. There was a long and awkward silence. “Twilight Sparkle.” He scowled, waving her over while still staring straight ahead.

“Yeah?” she stood shoulder to shoulder with him, admiring the long table.

“Why is the throne room a dining room?”

“Be… cause… it’s not a throne room?” It came out like a question, but Twilight couldn’t help but giggle a little. Princess Celestia tended to rearrange the palace a bit every time there were renovations done. It kept things interesting, lasted for months, and gave many ponies decorating jobs. That and… well… if you were nearly immortal, would you want your home to look the same forever? It was good to change it up every few decades or so.

“Lead me there.” Spartan Shield finally said, growling in an ego-bruised sort of way. Twilight nodded with a genuine smile, turning right and leading him down a few more hallways. He peered about silently, frowning at all of the new things. Paintings on the walls he didn’t recognize. Columns much thinner than they once were, more decorated and less cigar-like that he recalled. Naked ponies everywhere too, he just couldn’t get over that. Everything looked bright and clean and well-lit… this was not the palace he knew. The Spartan Stallion scowled without thinking about it, eliciting nervous looks from anypony that looked at him as he passed.

“This is it.” Twilight said at last. When they turned the corner, they found the double doors of the throne room all the way open on both sides. A pair of guards saw the Spartan Stallion coming and closed ranks to block the way. “Don’t worry boys, he’s with me.” Twilight said just a little bit snobbishly. The guards looked at her, then parted the way. Spartan Shield was impressed to say the least. Who was this mare, if stallions moved from her path upon mere words? She must’ve had some seriously high station if the palace guards that guarded the throne room itself were so eager to do her bidding. The muscled pony made note to show a smidgen more respect to the purple mare. “Princess Celestia!” Twilight called aloud as they approached.

Princess Celestia sat on her royal haunches, high on the shining dais of her throne. The billowing banners of her office waved on either side of her, pushed by the wind that had come through the open windows. Summer had been a little bit harsher this year, so she kept her high officials cooler by allowing the wind to pass through the hallowed hall. “Ah Twilight Sparkle! My most Faithful student!” she looked up from her scrolls of work, over her half-moon glasses. She whipped off the glasses and vanished the scrolls to one side, standing and smiling genuinely. "What a pleasant surprise!"

“Shining Immortal Majesty!” Spartan Shield cast off his shield, which BLONNNNG’d onto the carpeted floor. Coming to his knees he set his spear lengthways in front of himself and pressed his forehead to the ground.

Twilight scampered forward like a filly, up the dais and extending her neck up for nuzzles. Celestia’s chest pressed up against her side, and giggling nuzzles she did give. The purple mare jittered animatedly, so happy to see her mentor. “Princess. It’s so good to see you! Sorry to barge in on you like this.” She said, bowing onto her belly for a few moments before rising.

Spartan Shield looked up and stared at them in horror. Even the Princess was nude! And-- and nuzzling with a grown mare like she was a filly! Had ponies gone completely mad?! Where was everyponies’ clothes?! “Your Majesty! You’re in the nude!” he roared, thrusting out an accusing hoof.

Celestia’s ears perked, turning forward. She studied the shouter at last, blinking a couple of times. The servants and staff looked at each other. What was ‘nude?’ They looked at Princess Celestia. She seemed normal. Huh. The hush over the hall was long and awkward. Twilight Sparkle backed up, smiling in an embarrassed way for her new… friend. The Princess, however, pressed her back knees together with a mild nickering sound. Nude. There was a word she’d not heard in hundreds of years.

“Er, Princess, this is Spartan Shield. I met him just today.” Twilight Sparkle explained, trying to smooth over the strange conversation.

“Spartan Shield?” Celestia looked at him closely. “I know that name...” she said softly. Her purple eyes took him in. The sheer muscle, the muted sandy color, the strange helmet and primitive spear. Her eyes fell on the round shield next to him and she gasped, raising a hoof to her mouth. “Oh my!” She said, eyes wide. She walked quickly past Twilight. Spartan Shield threw himself on his belly again to bow to her. “Rise, my little pony! You've come at last!” Celestia said with great energy. Her eyes glittered in grand acknowledgement of the pony before her. She remembered him. Ohh, did she remember him. That had been so long ago. "A thousand years later, no less!” she prodded his firm chest a few times, as though to make sure he was real. She smiled, the grand amusement of alicorn mischief in her eyes. She knew something, but she wasn't telling.

“A thousand years?!” Spartan Shield gaped at her, his pupils shrinking into dots.

“I found him as a statue in the Greek and Roman period exhibit.” Twilight explained, gesturing to him. “I accidentally broke his hoof off, and when I went to fix him, my restoration spell recovered him to flesh and bone, like he is now.” Celestia nodded her understanding, a slow smile working its way over her face.

“A thousand years?!” Spartan Shield said again, looking around wildly. No wonder everything looked so different. Centuries had gone by! “Shining Immortal Majesty! Please tell me! What happened after the battle?!” he begged Celestia at her hooves, looking up into her face. “What became of the Spartan Stallions?!”

Celestia’s face fell. “The battle was… a draw.” She said carefully, looking to one side. “I was able to stop Nightmare Moon and imprison her within the moon. The Lunar Stallions never made it to Canterlot.” She was relieved when he seemed satisfied with that answer, for he sagged forward in grand happiness before jumping back to his hooves.

“Well then! I have returned, your Majesty! I am ready to continue serving under you and bring destruction to thine enemies!” Spartan Shield snapped his salute. “Merely point me to the current Spartan Stallion barracks and I shall retire there for the day.”

Celestia smiled kindly, though there was a certain pity in her eyes. She glanced around at all the staring ponies. They had no concept of what war was, much less a veteran warrior like Spartan Shield. She kept guards, police, and firefighters, yes but—nothing like the Spartans had been. Hardened, powerful stallions and killing machines to boot. They were war ponies, and such a thing had not been needed since Nightmare Moon’s defeat. “I’m afraid there is no such barracks anymore, my little pony.” She said gently, looking down into his face.

His expression withered, and the slow realization came upon him. “I’m… the only one left.” He said quietly. “The only Spartan Stallion left.” Celestia nodded gravely. Twilight Sparkle looked at him with a softened expression.

“There hasn’t been a war, or even a battle, in Equestria since the defeat of Nightmare Moon.” Celestia said. “We live in an era of peace and prosperity now. There are no wars, no famines, and no need for such widespread violence anymore.” The stallion’s expression wilted into one of confusion and sudden self-loathing. There were no more battles to fight? What was he to do, then? A Spartan Stallion’s honor and glory was on the battlefield! “Equestria has been tamed into a utopia, Spartan Shield.” Celestia smiled gently, reaching and cupping his cheek so he would look at her. “The peace you fought so hard for has lasted for over a thousand years and continues to this day.” She tried to cheer him up, but she knew better. He was a warrior at heart. And a warrior with no battles to fight felt useless and depressed. She would need to think quickly. She glanced at Twilight Sparkle. “I know just the thing.” She said.

He looked up at her. Perhaps an assassination to be done? A criminal mastermind to hunt down and slay? Something, anything to make use of his skills! “Yes, your majesty?” he said eagerly.

“You should go to Ponyville with Twilight Sparkle, and learn about the modern era.” Celestia said, nodding cheerfully. Twilight Sparkle was a split, thinly-split second from screaming in her Princess’ face. He couldn’t go with her! He was a wild pony! Armed, no less! He would turn Ponyville on its head and… and who knew what! “It will be fun, I promise.” She told Spartan Shield. “When you have had plenty of time to rest and adjust to this time of peace, you’ll be able to settle down and make a new life for yourself.”

“But your Majesty!” Spartan Shield said, raising up his metallic shield to show her the sunburst on it. “I am a warrior! I belong with you, on the battlefield!” he protested.

“That is an order, soldier.” Celestia said with a measure of sternness. Twilight Sparkle shuddered back a step, leaning backward and lifting a hoof. The Princess’ face turned back to its normal calm and happy demeanor. “You will like Ponyville. It is a nice place to live.”

“Y… yes, your Majesty.” Spartan Shield stood there with a glazed expression, visibly stunned by all that he’d been told. A thousand years in the future. The only Spartan Stallion left. No more battles to fight. No more enemies to slay. Everypony ran around naked like it was nothing, not just the athletes. He looked over at Twilight Sparkle. “I don’t have to run about naked too, do I?” he asked the purple mare, gesturing to her lack of garments.

“Does it make you that uncomfortable?” Twilight furrowed her brow.

“Nudity was a big deal back then, Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia smiled a little, embarrassed. “It was only after we’d seized control of the seasons and the weather that ponydom made a slow transition to being without clothes most of the time.” Twilight and Spartan looked up at her with two different expressions of interest. “Before, only athletes ran around in just their fur. Now everypony does it. It’s an ancient sign of security and good health in Equestria.”

“No wonder you called me a whore.” Twilight accused with a frown. Celestia threw her head back in a grand laugh, but quickly halted herself when she saw Twilight’s look. Someone had called Twilight a whore… it was just a little bit funny, one had to admit. “Everypony wore clothes all the time in your era.” Twilight continued with a frown. Spartan Shield nodded. “Well it’ll be interesting to ease you into not wearing anything, then.” She chuckled aloud, giving his shoulder a pat. Spartan’s face pinkened, but his scowl only deepened at her.

After Twilight and Spartan had left to head for Ponyville, Celestia returned to her throne to sit and think. What a development this was. He was finally here. She’d not thought of the Battle of Moon’s Apex in ages. What a horrible night that had been. Yet, here was a relic of the past, back to haunt her. Twilight would have her hooves full… but Celestia knew she could handle it. She would’ve pulled him into the current royal guard, but he was a different breed of soldier. He would either kill somepony, or they would throw him out. A shot at a peaceful life was what he needed, she assured herself.

End of Part 2