//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Return of the King 
// Story: Chronicles of Crimson Sky 
// by Somekid295 
//------------------------------//

        
Chapter 3:
Return of the King


A sudden burst of light caused me to wake from my slumbers. I groaned and rolled over to face a nearby window. The sun was just beginning to rise causing pink and purple streaks to cut across the horizon. I could hear birds singing their usual morning tune, I groaned for a second time before stretching while letting out a big yawn, and climbing out of bed. I was still exhausted from last nights party, but at least everypony had a good time. I couldn't help but think about the sudden series of events that had occurred during, and after the party. I was supposed to tell twilight but I got too caught up in things, and ended up forgetting to do so.
"Twilight said she would be staying at the Carousel Boutique with her friends last night. Perhaps me, Spike, and Derpy can head over there after everypony wakes up. Also if I remember correctly we are going up to Canterlot to see the princess later today" I thought as I walked out my room.
When I walked into the hallway I was automatically greeted by the smell of a wonderful breakfast in the process of cooking. In the kitchen I found Spike on his little stool hovering over the oven. Derpy was sitting at the table with a basket of blueberry muffins in front of her.
"Well, Well look who finally woke up. You really gave us a scare last night when you passed out. Then you staggered up to your room live a zombie" said Spike.
"Really? I thought you guys may have carried me up or something. I don't think it is normal for me to sleepwalk like a zombie" I replied.
"Nope. I guess you were half awake when you walked up. Your eyes were closed and all, but you were mumbling stuff" said Derpy as she nibbled on a muffin.
"Oh well, at least I got to my bed right? Anywho I was planning to head down to the Carousel Boutique later. You guys want to come along with me?" I asked.
"Well I finished everything Twi wanted me to do, so why not" replied Spike.
"I don't really have much to do today so sure I will tag along with you guys" said Derpy.
At that exact moment I felt a cold sensation flow through my body. I tried to move but it was like I was melted to the floor. Time itself was standing still, the scenery around me flew towards a tree on top of a hill. I felt like something was wrong about that hill, very wrong. As I got closer to the hill I could see a stallion laying under a blanket of leaves. In front of him was a rifle set up on a bipod aiming at the kitchen window of the library.
"What's going on? Who is this guy? Who is he aiming at?" I thought as a million other questions zoomed around in my mind.
As fast as I arrived on the hill, I was back in the library. I shook my head and walked over towards the window. Directly across from me was the hill that the stallion was on. He was lying under a blanket of leaves, the leaves acting as camouflage. His rifle set up in front of him, aiming at the library kitchen window. Aiming directly at me. My eyes widened as I realized what was about to happen, I turned around to face the others.
"GET DOWN!!!!" I yelled as I dove to the floor.
Spike and Derpy looked at me in confusion, but not for long. Soon after my body made contact with the floor a thunder like sound shattered the air around us. The kitchen window shattered, and the air exploded into a series of gunfire. Spike dove to the floor as Derpy crawled under the table.
"What's happening?" Derpy shouted across the room.
"Well let's see, we're being shot at by who knows how many ponies, Twilight and the others are probably in trouble, and I almost got my head shot off" I replied.
"We need to get out of here" Spike yelled across to me.
"No, really? I'm just gonna sit here while a bunch of crazy ponies shoot at us" I said in a sarcastic tone.
Spike rolled his eyes and looked around the kitchen. The small dragon's face lit up as bright as the sun when an idea popped into his head.
"Guys flip the table, we can use it to make our way to the living room. If we are lucky nopony will be watching the door" said Spike.
"Good idea Spike" replied Derpy.
I crawled my way over to the table and helped Derpy flip it over. When we were done Spike ran behind the table and the three up us began pulling the table towards the front door. As we entered the living room the window shattered and a green ball-like figure bounced in. My eyes widened as I saw the grenade roll closer and closer to our location. Without thinking I grabbed Spike and Derpy, spread my wings, and flew as fast as I could out the front door towards Ponyville. The attackers continued to shoot at us but were unable to keep up.
"Where are we going?" asked Spike and Derpy at the same time.
"To the Carousel Boutique. We need to get the others out of Ponyville" I replied.
"And I need to tell them about the recent events that have been taking place" I thought as I flew through the town.
Ponyville was no longer the happy place where ponies could meet new friends and have a good time. Most of the buildings around us were burning or crippled. There were no survivors in view, the least we could do was to pray that they escaped Ponyville and were a safe distance from the attackers.
Lucky for us the Boutique was still in tact. I placed Spike and Derpy down gently and flew over to knock on the door. When I knocked the door it creaked open. I turned to look back at Spike and Derpy who had a frightened look on their faces, shrugged and flew in. The lights were out inside but I could make out the shape of a pony in the far corner of the room. The lights blazed on, temporarily blinding me. I landed causing a sudden pain to shoot through my left back leg. Unable to bear the pain I fell over, I could barely make out voices around me.
"Crimson?" I heard somepony ask.
"Rainbow look what ya gone and done. Ya'll should think before almost blinding somepony" I heard another voice say.
"Girls he's been shot!" said a third voice. "He's losing too much blood, we need to get him help. Come on"
I felt myself being picked up and carried away. I tried to move, but quickly became light headed. I was just able to turn and see Twilight and the others carrying me away.
"W-what's h-happening" I asked in a weak voice.
"Don't talk, you're losing too much blood. If you keep putting strain on yourself it will only speed up the process" replied Twilight.
"Ya gone and got shot sugarcube. Yer lucky it was only a leg" asked Applejack.
"Yea w-well at least I d-didn't get killed" I replied "W-where's S-spike and D-derpy?"
"Right here" said Derpy with a smile "You're gonna be okay. You got that?"
"W-well I s-sure hope so. Otherwise w-who is gonna keep y-you guys s-safe?"
Everypony laughed at that. I saw Fluttershy walk up to me with a small smile on her face.
"We're taking you to Canterlot" she said "The princesses will make sure you get better"
"That's nice to hear. Thanks Fluttershy" I said with a weak smile "G-guys there i-is something I need t-to tell"
Before I could finish I began to feel dizzy, the world spun around me as it all faded to darkness.
___                         ___                      ___
Discord felt a burst of excitement run through his body  as he arrived at the Crystal Empire. He was becoming annoyed of having to use his pony form, but soon he will be himself again. The train slowly came to a stop and everypony started to leave. Discord stepped off the train and started heading straight towards the castle.
Everything was falling into place now, Chrysalis and her changeling army were waiting on the outskirts of the Crystal Empire. She already sent one hundred changeling into the Empire. Fifty disguised as normal townsfolk, and Fifty disguised as guards within the castle. All of them awaiting the signal to attack. Nopony will ever know what hit them. He came to a stop in front of the Crystal Heart and chuckled. Discord wrapped two hooves around the heart and yanked it out of it's place. The air around the Crystal Empire exploded, a blue streak ripped across the sky and fell to the ground. Changelings flooded the Empire from all directions. Others that were already in undisguised and attacked anypony in sight.
Discord laughed and undisguised himself. His old friend was almost free, there was only one thing left to do.
He laughed again at the sight in front of him, and turned to walk into the castle. Guards all around the castle were slain and left to rot. It was a truly wonderful sight to see, Discord wished that the moment could last forever. When he arrived to the throne room Shining Armor and Cadence were tied up and gagged in front of the throne. Discord walked up to them and smiled.
"I'm sure this is a horrible feeling for you. Your Empire is falling all around you and you can do nothing but sit and watch. But this isn't the only thing we came here to do. You locked away a good friend of ours a while back and we want him back. Now we are going to make you watch as your poor Crystal Empire crumbles yet again" said Discord.
"Mmmmmph" Shining tried to speak but the gag prevented him.
"Oh what was that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of your dying empire" Discord laughed. 
Discord walked to the center of the throne room, and slammed the crystal heart onto the solid floor causing it to shatter. The air filled with a thunder like sound, pitch black smoke gathered around the heart. Green eyes appeared in the center of the smoke as it began to form into the shape of a pony. Within a minute a grey pony with black hair, green and red eyes, a black tail, and a glowing red horn was standing above the shattered heart.
"Dissscord, I must thank you forrr freeing me yet againnn" said the Pony.
"Oh Sombra, did you really think I would leave you out of a war like this" replied Discord with an evil grin.
Sombra looked over at Shining Armor and Cadence. Who were still tied up and sitting below the throne.
"Why are thessse filthy poniessss sssstill alive? They are the onesss that imprisoned me for the second time" said Sombra with a look of disgust.
Three ponies with guns walked into the throne room and stood by Discord's side.
"What shall I do with them old friend?" asked Discord.
"Kill them, and get their filthy faces out of my sight" Sombra replied.
"Will do, Sombra. Will do" said Discord.
Discord looked at Shining and Cadence, then down to the soldiers next to him.
"Kill them" he said.
The ponies raised their guns and fired at Shining. Cadence screamed as tears began rolling down her face. Then three more gunshots filled the air. They were dead, all that remained of them were two corpses lying in a puddle of blood. Discord chuckled at the sight of the two ponies laying dead in front of him. He turned and walked out of the throne room, Celestia will soon hear of the events that just took place. But it would bee to late for her to do anything for her precious subjects. They had won this battle and started a new one, a battle to claim rule over a land. This battle would be written down in history, the battle where the two glorious princesses had fallen. The Battle For Equestria has begun.