When the trio of ponies opened the door from the library to the outside world they were met with the most curious sight. In the short time that they had been searching for a method to defeat the evil lurking outside the Empire's boundaries, the city had become decorated with festive pennants, banners, and all manner of pavilions. All three ponies were dumbstruck by the total transformation of the city and before any of them could say anything, a screeching sound echoed out from the Crystal Palace, resounding across the land.
It was a terrible sound, hurting Sassaflash's ears as the half metallic voice almost seemed to cry out “flugelhorn” to the world. But thankfully it was over almost as suddenly as it began and Twilight's voice could be heard following after it.
“Hear ye! Hear-”
Again the half musical, half vocal sound cried out, silencing Twilight as she paused and turned towards the source of the infernal racket. After a momentary pause, during which Sassaflash presumed Twilight was dealing with the source of the noise, Twilight resumed her announcement.
“Hear ye! Hear ye! Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor do cordially invite you to attend the Crystal Fair!”
Upon hearing that their Crystal Fair had returned, an uncountable number of ponies began to emerge out of the buildings lining the streets. Sassaflash had never really noticed how empty the city was before until now. Whereas the streets were once wide and empty, now they suddenly felt narrow and cramped as more and more ponies made there way outside.
Quickly taking flight, Sassaflash hovered above the crowds and examined the city. Twilight's friends were running around at full speed, attempting to cover each of the many stalls throughout the fair. They certainly appeared to be having fun and not at all concerned about the fading shield or the evil waiting outside.
Touching down next to her cousin, Sassaflash watched as the spirits of the crystal ponies around them were lifted even to the point that some of them began to glow. Unfortunately her own heart was too concerned by the ever present danger outside to enjoy the atmosphere around them.
“I don't understand. Why are they celebrating?”
Rocinante half pranced through the crowd, his curious eyes darting from booth to booth.
“It would appear, dear Sassa, that young Twilight Sparkle, Champion of the Sun, has achieved victory over the lurking darkness. A true pity that the task was completed before we were given our due chance at honor and glory, but it would be improper for a servant of justice, virtue, and valor to bemoan the success of a fellow agent of the same!”
Sassaflash felt comforted by the notion that their quest was completed, but she felt strangely empty inside, as though she, like her cousin, was disappointed at the idea of coming all this way for nothing. But it was an idea that did not stick with her for long. Just the simple fact that the shield was still visible was enough to keep a damper on Sassaflash's spirit and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Next to her, Curio was busy studying the entrance to the palace and the impromptu fairgrounds around it.
“Well, either way, I would think that this is still a fortunate event for us, Sir Knight. The Palace has virtually no guards at the door now.”
Rocinante scoffed and turned from the palace towards all of the stands to their right.
“What use does that trinket serve us now? If the enemy is truly defeated, then it serves us no purpose and is best left lost, hidden away from all who might be rendered asunder by its foul temptations into darkness. Ah! It says here that there shall be jousting! What fun! Come Sassa! Mr. Curio! Let us see if we can take the prize!”
Curio frowned, but before he could respond the shield surrounding the city suddenly disappeared. The sky had never felt so foreign and hostile to Sassaflash as a dark laugh echoed across the stunned empire and the dark fog suddenly formed on the outskirts of the city. In the distance, Sassaflash could barely make out the towering form the fog took when they encountered it on their way to the Empire, but somehow it seemed even more menacing, even more evil than before.
But before it could finish mustering itself for an all out attack, the shield suddenly burst up from the ground. Desperate to prevent his opportunity from escaping, King Sombra rushed forward, but was simply too late. As the shield finished re-materializing and the howls of King Sombra faded away, the only thing that Sassaflash could hear was her own knees quivering and knocking beneath her. Shivering as she looked towards her cousin, Sassaflash could see everypony, including Curio, but excluding Rocinante, around them was clearly terrified.
“C-Cousin, D-Do you think, maybe Twilight hasn't beaten King Sombra yet?”
Rocinante's eyes were glaring intently at the dark fog now rendered invisible by the magical shield between them. He was clearly irritated at the notion of not being able to participate in the joust due to evil's return, but suddenly, as though he had just heard Sassaflash's words, he perked up and looked back towards his cousin.
“It would appear that we were too hasty to assume that our chance at honor and glory had faded. Our foe has foalishly reemerged and now awaits defeat by our hooves! Let us make haste, dear Sassa, and restore the festivity of the day!”
Sassaflash gritted her teeth and she sped in front of her cousin to cut him off.
“B-But, Rocinante! Shouldn't we get the amulet first? I mean, it's power in addition to our own would guarantee our victory!”
Rocinante shook his head, his eyes clearly filled with distaste at the very mention of the amulet.
“Dear Sassa, I fear your fixation on this amulet of darkness. It is a dark tool made for dark actions. We have no need nor interest in such a foul machination for it cannot assist, it can only corrupt.”
Sassaflash looked back towards their enemy outside and back to her cousin before shaking her head violently. She knew the only reason they had survived the last attack was because of the crystal Princess Luna had given them and that was no longer able to help them now.
“Cousin, It's just an amulet, a tool! Just because somepony evil used it, doesn't mean that it will corrupt everypony who uses it! It's just a means to an end!”
Sassaflash was surprised at her own stubbornness against her cousin, but she couldn't help but fear that marching out to meet the dark fog this time would be their undoing. Yet, despite her pleas, Rocinante continued marching forward.
“Dear Sassa, can you not see? It is not the tool that corrupts, but the possibilities and actions associated with such a tool that renders the heart asunder. Look at yourself now, listen to your words and the anger behind them. “Just a means to an end”? Nay, dear Sassa, that sort of reasoning is but only a few steps away from the justification evil often uses for its actions.”
“But we can't beat him!”
“That was said of our first opponent, was it not?”
Sassaflash stood there with her mouth agape. Rocinante clearly was not going to budge on this unless she could say something, anything to convince him to to turn around. While her first objection was that they had no way to defeat their opponent, she suddenly remembered Princess Luna's words and their mission. While it may not have been the real reason why she didn't want to face the enemy outside the shield, it was still a reason all the same.
“But, remember? Princess Luna said we were only supposed to help Twilight defend the Empire, we're not supposed to do it ourselves.”
Rocinante stopped suddenly and turned to face his cousin. The look in his eyes wasn't the usual brightness that she had come to expect from him and his face seemed to be almost darkened by their conversation. Pausing to sit on the sidewalk they had been marching along, Rocinante sighed.
“I...You are correct, dear Sassa. This is young Twilight Sparkle's task and we are to only make a stand in the event of her failure.”
Placing a hoof on his shoulder for moral support, Sassaflash couldn't help but feel slightly guilty. She hadn't lied, but she felt as though she had not been exactly truthful either. Forcing a smile, Sassaflash told herself that it didn't really matter and that the ends justified her means.
“Perhaps we should go and find the amulet, so we can protect it from King Sombra.”
Rocinante raised an eyebrow towards her and immediately Sassaflash wished she hadn't brought it up.
“Cousin, I fear this amulet and its implications have altered your way of thinking without you ever even catching sight of it. Tell me, why do you seek this wretched thing so?”
Sassaflash rubbed the back of her head for a moment, trying to dodge the question with an explanation for why they shouldn't ignore the amulet her cousin was so focused on avoiding.
“What if Twilight finds it first?”
“Hmm?”
“Think about it, we know, or at least think, that the Alicorn Amulet is an instrument of evil, but does Twilight? If she catches sight of it first and doesn't know what it is, she might use it accidentally, or possibly even allow King Sombra to get to it!”
The knight-errant's eyes widened as he stood up. Placing a hoof to his chin in contemplation, Rocinante was clearly battling with himself over what to do. Now was the time for Sassaflash to make her move.
“All we have to do is find it and keep it safe for just a little while, then we can dispose of it however we please.”
She held her breath as Rocinante seemed to chew on her words before suddenly he looked up at her with a weak and clearly forced smile.
“I see you are correct again, dear Sassa. Now then, let us go forth and form the valiant barrier between darkness and light surrounding this foul relic.”
Sassaflash began to hover with excitement as she followed after her cousin, but as they passed through the door into the palace, she couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt. Looking back at the flickering shield, Sassaflash took a deep breath. She had to get to that amulet. As long as she had its power behind them, then not even King Sombra could touch them. The ends justified the means, didn't they?