Ponce De Leon is a one-time character from the DuckTales reboot and the main antagonist of the Season 3 episode The Forbidden Fountain of the Foreverglades!.
Background
Physical Appearance
Ponce De Leon is an elderly lion with long grey hair tied together with blue hair bands and yellow eyes with black pupils. He wears a light green polo t-shirt with starfish patterns on it and a pair of tan khaki pants.
Under the effects of the fountain of youth's water, Leon has dark brown hair.
Backstory
Prior to the events of the episode, Leon discovered the Fountain of Youth's ability to sap the youth of young and old people 500 years ago at the Fountain of the Foreverglades. With this knowledge, Ponce was able to divert the fountain's water to his hotel pool as a way to lure in and trap unsuspecting teenage vacationers.
Role in the series
Leon was introduced in the Season 3 episode, "The Forbidden Fountain of the Foreverglades!".
In the episode, Leon (during his duty as a hotel manager) tells the audience that nowadays, visitors can experience the rejuvenation of youth at the Conquistador Inn resort. As the McDucks arrive there, Scrooge McDuck approaches him as Leon gives him a key for his hotel room while talking about the Inn's spa and crystal-clear pool surrounded by casual elegance. It is then known Leon was able to trap all of the teenage vacationers in his hotel and drain them of their youth, while keeping him young as well before his true nature revealed. Later, Huey, Dewey, and Louie approach Leon who is kindly catering the guests and later asking them for gelatin on their plates to which the guests agree. Back at the lobby, the nephews gaze upon Leon restricting the manager area for employees only by locking it, much to Louie's concern.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie figured out his scheme by noticing the hotel manager identical to the painting of Ponce De Leon in the hotel lobby, forcing him to give him their youth. He then explains his backstory that he drained the water from the Fountain and transfer it to the Conquistador Inn resort, revealing his true nature to the nephews and causing them to be trapped inside the storage closet. Scrooge and Goldie approach Leon and confront him for his betrayal and it is found out the pool water is actually from the Fountain of Youth, despite his resort being rated five stars. As Leon prepares to kill Goldie using his sword, Scrooge grabs a cane and blocks his strike just as Scrooge and Goldie corner him with the weapons they are wielding. Unsure about this offer, Scrooge notices one of the pool visitors who started aging after diving into the pool. John D. Rockerduck and Jeeves approach him just as Rockerduck drinks some of the Fountains's water to regains his strength.
Noticing Leon and Jeeves attacking Scrooge, Goldie and the nephews confront the two just as Goldie gives Fountain water to Jeeves (causing him to be turned into a baby) in order to save Scrooge. Having defeated Rockerduck and Jeeves, Leon later engaged Scrooge and Goldie in a lengthy sword fight that ended with both Leon and Scrooge falling into the pool and slowly regaining their normal age. Goldie rescues Scrooge, leaving Leon to die from aging back to his old self.
Trivia
- Ponce De Leon is based on and named after Juan Ponce de Léon, a 15th century Spanish explorer who is affiliated with the discovery of the Fountain of Youth.
- Ponce De Leon has a striking resemblance to Scar from Disney's The Lion King.
