The Pony and the shadows

"It's time, Gilia, we are about to meet the Princesses." Epic was in brown armour, the same as his fur, and had a sword under each wing, sheathed and ready to strike.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be... Let's do this Epic." Gilia was in crimson armour, a special request, and her beak was encased in a silver plating, to protect it.

They entered the throne room, Epic shivered, and they walked forward, then saluted. "At ease," Celestia spoke, "you are probably wondering why you were sent hear, yes?" They nodded, " then let me inform you, we have a training course that is currently un-tested, this is going to be your challenge, a two pony -or a griffin and pony- team is required to get through, I want you two to complete it. Once done, I want you two on the front lines by next week. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am"

"Yes ma'am" They said in sinc.

"Good."

"Permission to speak freely your majesty," a nod, "I think Luna is in a bit of stress, or something, because I feel a dark presence around her."

"Understood, I'll talk to her later."

... Three hours later...

"So this is the course, huh, well, I'll be the first to say, we need a plan." Epic said.

"So what's the plan?" Gilia asked.

"I don't have one yet." Epic said drily.

"Sorry~, bossy mc bossinton." Came Gilia's snarky reply.

"..."{Wait a minute... If I jump over there... And she pulls that lever... Ah-ha!} "Got it! So hear me out..." Several hours later and the two ar on the last leg.

"Got it! Now go, and let me out!" Gilia yelled. Epic ran through the last door, and found the lever to release Gilia from the area, and flipped it. "Yes, we did it Epic, we actually did it! Haha!"

"Was there ever any doubt?" Epic said cockiness in his tone. Now we need to report to Celestia, then go to the front lines!" And with that, they're off, they arrived at the throne room entrance, and the guards told the Princesses they were there, they were called in instantly.

"So you complete the task, together, and did it in a day? I'll say I'm impressed with your teamwork. Maybe because you are both friends, but Starsworld says that there's no magic in friendship... I do wonder though." A cough from Epic got her back on topic, "you've got the rest of the week to prepare for the battle that will inshue once we enter the Crystal Empire, our target is the Crystal tower that is the palace, if you can find the Crystal Heart then place it were it belongs, that is the only way to beat King Sombra and take back the empire. We, my sister and I, will fight Sombra, you two, I want you to locate the Heart if you do then good, if not take down as many of Sombra's men as possible."

"Understood!"

"Let's do this!"

"Everypony is counting on us to bring him to justice, do not fail us." Luna said.

One week later...

This is it, the battle has begun, Epic and Gilia are spearheading the charge. Epic slammed  a pony's head against the ground, Gilia jumps over him and smashed a pony's face, both out cold, another, Epic destroyed a building with the pony body he kicked though it, a pony jabbed at Epic, he smashed the spear, and K.O.'d the pony, he took out his right hand sword, and slashed a pony's legs, disabling them in the process then continued onward, Gilia followed.

Dark crystals cut them off, "my, my, Celestia has been busy, hasn't she? A pony of light, and a griffin of Griffinstone, in my domain, ready to DIE for an ignorant princess. You should join me, fight with me, not against me... The griffin will die, if you refuse Epic." said a unicorn, and Epic looked quite surprised, "surprised? You should be, I am King Sombra, and I noticed you shortly after an incident, the house, I saw how you resisted the ghost that created that illusion you have a lot of power. You can learn to use it. I can teach you. Come, join me. Or perish."

"I already know how to use it, thank you very much, so I'll have to decline." Epic said before a beam of brown magic hit Sombra, then both his swords started to float, and Gilia notest that the hilts had an odd shape; one two crescents pointing out, the other two crescents pointing towards each other and the blade sticking out the top crescents on each sword. Epic charged, and his swords slashed at Sombra when he neared, Sombra charged an attack and tried to hit Epic. He disappeared and Sombra looked around to see where he disappeared to, only to get hit on the back of the head with two sword slashes, and he tried a crystal attack Epic wasn't there.

"I see, you're even more persistent than I thought, but no matter. I SHALL STRIKE YOU DOWN!" he yelled, and placed a round thing with a lightning bolt on it. {He has that?! What spells dose he know?} Epic jumped to the left "LIGHTNING STORM!!!" and with that, the Rune-like thing exploded in a series of lightning bolts, all coming down were Epic just was {dang, he is stronger than he looks... I'll need to use some Runic enchantments...} Epic knew this was only the beginning.