Chapter 2 The Lenin of Stalliongrad
The cold winters of Stalliongrad were below 40 degrees Celsius so growing food, traveling, or anything that involves going outside without warmth was a death wish. The place suffered blizzards that could make the place covered in snow. The unicorns of Stalliongrad couldn't take out the weather conditions as it was too strong to handle and exhausted them. The Tsar, however, had made edicts to get more food and power from the ponies and caused resentment. One pony in particular was V.I. Leonin.
Vicious Intelligent Leonin was born in a small town of Kiev, Umane. He had a dark mane with a greyish coat and dark eyes with a moustache and beard. He was particularly good with politics and grew to become a leader and a politician, his speeches in class would always bring the foals to class just to hear him speak. Leonin spoke out against the Tsar as the Tsar, in his eyes, was nothing but a tyrant hindering the city's economic and prestige in the Equestrian Empire. Leonin had staged massive rallies, but one was the biggest one and the worst.
It was a clear day in the middle of the winter, Leonin had a non-violent, pacifistic march for food that the ponies had wanted. They rallied to the Royal Palace and the Tsar was amazed and…..paranoid, seeing this as a revolt. He ordered the Militia to use cannons, tear gas, and magic spells to take down the rioters. This riot was called….Bloody Monday as the cannons were loaded with actual rounds and killed ten ponies. After that the Militia looked for Leonin everywhere but couldn't find him. Bloody Monday was something that would never reach Canterlot or at least that is what the public eye would know. The news did travel there, but Princess Celestia immediately decreed that this event will not be told to anypony, reasoning that this was something of bad news and ponies didn't like bad news.
Leonin however, did exactly the opposite. He told his friends in numerous places to spread the event around and a newspaper in Umane wrote about the event, hailing Leonin as a hero of the ponies in Umane and Stalliongrad. Soon, the surrounding cities of St. Ponysburg, Umane, Trottingham, and Belagrad had heard and would give supplies to Leonin in the future.
After a couple of months, the Militia finally found Leonin and sent him to the Gremlin.
THE GREMLIN
A crowd of ponies gathered around and sat in the courtroom as Leonin was brought in by the Militia. The Tsar was the judge and he scornfully glared at Leonin, he was nothing but trouble for the Tsar.
"Please state the defendant's name." The Tsar said with a hint of glee. He was ready to send Leonin the verdict.
"V. I. Leonin." Leonin said
"You are charged with insubordination, stealing, and the worst crime of all, speaking out against the government. How do you plea?" The Tsar said smacking the hammer down on the desk he was on.
Leonin gets up out of his chair and looks at the ponies around. "My name is V.I. Leonin, and I have been here looking around at this 'Winter Wonderland' and it is no wonderland…..when a tyrant sits at the top. Look at your neighbors' foals as they starve to death while the Tsar eats whole feasts in his dining hall. I cannot stand idly as my friends, family, and others die because of starvation while THIS pony, THIS tyrant starves us to death!" Leonin's words rang in the courthouse and the words sunk into the ponies.
"Death or Exile?" The Tsar asked
"Death." Leonin said
Tsar smashed his hammer. "Death by Exile it is." The Militia took Leonin by the hooves and dragged him out to the cold terrain outside of Stalliongrad. The closest place was Germania, specifically Ponyland that had been annexed by Germania.
Leonin had survived the travel to Germania and there he spread his stories and decreed of change to Stalliongrad once he got there. The greatest aid to Leonin that helped him get back to Stalliongrad was something unexpected and thought to have never come to the Equestrian Empire in centures…..war.
Next Chapter: The Greatest War in Equestria
AN: So this isn't a one-shot for those wondering, and in fact this is kinda picks up the time of 1914 or around there. There will be some differences and some things alike to WW1. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and please review!