In the following early morning, Twilight woke to the sound of rummaging. Tiredly looking round for its source, she located Link, going through his drawer. "Morning... Did you lose something?"

Link turned to face her, and shut the drawer. "Not at all. Just wanted to indirectly wake you up." He stood up straight and continued, "The first train to Canterlot leaves in twenty minutes, and I intend to be on it."

"Why's that?" Twilight asked, getting out of her comfy bed. "If you don't mind my asking."

"Some business to attend to," he replied. "But, if you want more details: I'm going for a ... personal request. When I went up to the mountain, I met a guard who wanted a mask for his son. And since that store just opened up in Canterlot, I'm gonna help him out."

"Will Epona be joining you?" He shook his head. "Oh."

Link waved his hand before him. "Nah, she's already on her way to the farm. She'll be there helping Aj while I'm away." He hesitated. "Which brings to my attention the bag of tools. I don't suppose you want to stretch your legs and take them to the farm for me?"

Twilight looked out the window, barely seeing the sun break through the few clouds. "You said Epona's already on her way?" He nodded. "Well... Alright. I'll do this for you, but only this once."

"Thanks, Twilight. I owe you one." As he turned to leave, he felt a tugging at his sleeve. "Hm?" When he looked, he saw her light magic at the sleeve's end.

"You what? You 'owe me one'?" Link slowly nodded. "I'll remember that." She let him go and smiled. "Nothing life-threatening. Promise."

"Uh huh..." Link left the room and entered the lobby.

Emmy had woken up to his light footfalls, and sat upright. "Leaving so soon?"

"Well yeah. I have business in Canterlot, and the train leaves real soon." Link made for the door.

"And you're just going to leave me here to fend off Rainbow by myself?" she asked his retreating form.

"Yep." He closed the door behind him. Link sighed with his back against the door. "She'll have to face her sometime. And she doesn't need me around when that happens."

~~~~~~~~~

"You know," Navi said from his shoulder, "we've been walking up and down every street from the station, and there isn't anypony who knows about a mask shop."

"Bad luck? Maybe we'll find it on our own? Kinda wish stuff like this was easier." Link turned down another street, nearly bumping into a sharp-dressed stallion. Thankfully, Link turned and sidestepped, dodging effectively. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."

"It is no trouble at all, really. Your skill alone prevented the spilling of my afternoon tea, and for that I thank you. Now, forgive my curiosity, lad, but it seems to me that you're looking for something."

Link noticed a mare at the stallion's side. "I am, actually. A shop that only recently opened up. Maybe just a week ago?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to be a bit more specific; shops open and close all the time here in Canterlot, you know."

"It sells masks,” Link said, pointing to his own face. "Can’t imagine there's many stores like that."

"And you'd be right." The stallion looked closer at Link. "Say.. You look rather ... familiar... " He pressed a hoof to his chin. "Weren't you on a wanted poster last weekend?"

"Was, yes," Link admitted. "Charges were dropped too."

"I see... Oh, where are my manners?" The stallion lowered his head in introduction, then raised it. "Fancy Pants, at your service. This way, please." Slowly, the stallion turned around and led Link and Navi along the sidewalk. As the two of them followed, Fancy kept talking on and on about his business, and occasionally asked a question. After about half an hour, he stopped his story and his walk. " - and that is why you should never dismantle a coat rack unless you know what you're doing."

"That is a fascinating story, Mr. Pants," Navi commented a bit sarcastically. "Do you have more?"

"Countless, my dear. But alas, would that I had the time. We are here." He pointed to the side at the store Link searched for. "Your destination." No sign, no welcome mat, and barely any lighting. "A rather odd place it seems, but who am I to judge a book by its cover?"

Link nodded and went inside. "Thanks again," he said, closing the door. Bells jingled by the open door. There were several chunks of wood to the sides. Behind the counter, the wall was adorned with a few shelves, most of which were empty. "Uhm... Hello?" Link called. "Anypony home?"

A unicorn stallion appeared from behind a curtain beyond the counter. "Ah. A customer! Welcome, boy." The unicorn had a strange smile about him.

"Uhh... Thanks..." Link said. "I'm looking for a-"

"Mask," the stallion finished. "Of course you are. Why else would you be drawn to my shop in the first place?"

"Fair point." The stallion pointed to the sign on the side. "Hm?" Link read the board top to bottom a few times. "Oh, I get it. Alright, so I'll borrow that mask there then."

"The kitsune mask is yours." The stallion levitated the yellow and black wood mask to the counter. "This mask is 10 bits. If you manage to sell it for more, you keep what's left. If not... Well, then the money comes from your own pocket."

"That's fair." Link put the mask in his pouch. "Good thing I have somepony who wants this mask in mind. Soon as I get payment, I'll come back and pass it on."

"I look forward to it."

Link left the shop and stood just outside. "Alright, we have that mask, the pony who wants it's location, and price. Now we just need to get there."

"I recommend the train station. It's got a route map. Maybe we can get close enough?" Navi offered.

~~~~~~~~~

Alright, fine," Navi admitted, "Sure, there's a map... But there are no stations near enough to the mountain."

Link pointed at a few tall buildings on the map. "There. Manehattan. That sounds like it has transportation."

"It's also far. Remember: maps don't show accurate distance."

"Well, what do you suggest then? I wanted to be there and back by tonight, but I didn't expect there to not be a station that could make that happen."

Navi thought, then offered, "Then be faster than a train, or balloon."

Link fell silent, then said, "Teleport?" Navi nodded. Quickly, he called Emmy on his ocarina.

Don't look in here!!

In a tight spot are you?

Emmy let out an audible gasp, then was quiet again. Link! Why can't you be more subtle when you get my attention?

Link laughed. "Sorry. Anyway, I need your help."

I'm not in a good spot to help you right now.

"You're hiding from Dash, yeah? So teleport to where I am, and you'll be fine."

I told you, I can't. She'll sense and feel that I was here recently, and then follow my energy to where you are.

"So glide off the balcony. Gliding uses the least amount of magic, right? Then gallop to a safe distance and teleport from there. My goodness, you're hopeless sometimes." Link was quiet for a few moments.

A few minutes later, Emmy responded, "Alright, where are you?"

"Canterlot's east train station."

Instantly, Emmy appeared just a few feet from him. "Now what's so important that you need a favor from me?"

"The gate guard who wanted a mask for his son. You remember?" She nodded. "I was hoping you could teleport me and Navi up there and back."

"Of course I can," she boasted. "Just need to expand the field to beyond me, and make it happen." She placed her hoof on Link's free shoulder. "Just... face away from me when you get there." Emmy took a breath.

"Okay, but why-"

The world around him blinked out of sight for the smallest fraction of a second; far too fast for Link to see. When it came back, Link, Emmy, and Navi stood in front of the gate guard. That transition speed hit Link full force, causing him to lean over and expel his breakfast onto the ground.

"That's why. You've never teleported before. Definitely not with me, so of course you're not accustomed to how fast the transition is."

"Next time, give me some warning." She chuckled. "What?"

"That's the thing: once you teleport for the first time, your body acclimates. Odds are, you'll never keel over from it ever again, knowing your resilience." Emmy walked up to the gate guard. "Well, hello there."

"You again?" he scoffed.

"Us, again. And yes. This time, I have something for you." Link took out the mask from his pouch and held it out to the guard. "Kitsune mask, as you requested."

"You really went out of your way to help me huh?" The stallion dug in his armor and pulled out a bag of bits. "Here's 15 for your trouble. My kid's gonna love it."

"But... You're on shift, right?" He nodded. Emmy continued, "Then how are you going to get it to him?"

Silence. "Y'see, well... Uhm... I-I'll write him a letter, and have him come get it."

"Uh huh. Well, enjoy your mask." Link took the money bag and tied it to his belt. "Alright. I'm ready this time."

Emmy once again placed her hoof on him, and took a slow breath. "You know how hard it is to track an object with no magic?" He shook his head. "Very. Gimme a sec."

He waited patiently for a few seconds, before the world turned his sight once more. That time, he kept his feet under him and the remainder of his food down. "Better."

"So," Emmy started, "where to?"

"You're going back to the library," Link ordered.

"No I'm not. She knows my last location, and more she knows I was hiding in the library. Pegasi can feel the energy around them. More deeply than unicorns."

"You're scared to tell her the truth, then?" Link baited.

"I'm sooo not scared of Rainbow Dash." She watched Link fold his arms. "What?"

"Then I'll make you a deal: if you want to come with me, then I'll be there when you tell her tomorrow. If you don't, then I will tell her myself when I get back there tonight."

"But that's not fair!" Emmy argued. "Still... I guess it would be better to have a friend there with me when I do tell her." She thought a few moments. "Fine. You got yourself a deal."

Link smiled. "Since you accepted my offer, we have a mask shop to go to."

~~~~~~~~~

Within the hour, Emmy, Link and Navi returned once more to the mask shop. The bells jingled as they had done for Link before, signifying his entry into the store. As with the previous time, the shop owner came in from a room behind the counter through a curtain. "Welcome back! Your face alone tells me you were successful in selling the mask!"

"That's right." Link placed the pouch from his belt on the counter, and tipped it over, letting the bits roll. Carefully, he stopped them and counted out ten for the unicorn. "Ten bits."

"I knew you'd be successful. Here." He placed a second mask on the counter, and while Link looked at it, he replaced the kitsune mask with another just like it. "Now you can borrow this one whenever you want, but you can only borrow one at a time."

"That makes sense," Emmy said. "What about other ponies?"

"Hm?" The question hung in the air. "Oh, you mean what if other ponies want to borrow them?" she nodded. "Well, that's a secret to everypony, and you just have to accept that."

Link picked up the second mask. "So... What's this one?"

"That one is made of bone. Animal bone. Well, synthetic animal bone. Really, it's just wood painted perfectly to look like animal bone. 20 bits."

"Really?" He pocketed it. "Alright. I don't have anypony lined up for this one, so it might take a while."

"Take all the time you need. This isn't a library, so there are no due dates or overdue charges." The stallion smiled wide and approached the counter. "I will say this: that mask there... I know to whom it should go. The question is... Will you survive the journey?"

"Ooookay, well, we better be going, right Link?" Emmy started tugging at his arm.

"Indeed," the stallion agreed. "Our paths will cross again soon. Until then, Link. Emerald. Farewell." He disappeared behind the curtain.

Link and Emmy left the shop, the bell sounding more eerie every time it chimed. "That was strange."

"You don't know the half of it, Link. That stallion gave off a very dangerous vibe. Like he was possessed or something."

"No, I know. What I don't know, is how he knew your name." Emmy adopted a look of terror. "Hahahaha! I'm kidding! I told him I'd be coming back with you when I returned the mask. You should have seen your face!" Link did his best to imitate real laughter.

"That's not funny! You really had me scared, Link!" More laughter, but more quieted.

Link glanced back at the store. Sorry, Emmy.

~~~~~~~~~

The three of them got off the train at Ponyville station several hours later. They all made it back to the library unseen by Rainbow, but Emmy knew something was amiss.

At the library, the door was cracked open, and inside Twilight and Epona had taken to enjoying reading some books. Soon as the library door opened fully, Dash landed and narrowed her eyes. "You both owe me an explanation," she harshed.

"Not today we don't," Link countered. "See, she and I made a deal. And for the terms, she tells you everything tomorrow. With me there to sit in. So tonight, she is free from your pestering, understand?"

Rainbow was silent, save for a few uneasy rufflings of her wings. Then, she growled a little. "Fine." She sat down hard. "Tomorrow. Pinkie promise me."

"What?" Emmy said.

"Pinkie promise. 'Cross my heart hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.'" Dash went through the motions with an ever so serious look on her face. "Do it, Emmy."

"Fine. 'Cross my heart hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.' Not sure what all that means."

"It means, that if you break this promise, a demon god's wrath will smite you."

"That's serious. But alright." Emmy turned to Link, who was already heading for the door. "Where are you going?"

"I have a board to check in town. I'll be back later," he said.

Twilight looked up from her book. "Be safe out there."

~~~~~~~~~

At the request board, Link was in high disbelief when he saw the board was empty, despite the nice mare's words. "Unbelievable. After all that... Nothing."

"Give it time. You've only been gone one single day," Navi comforted. "You're still new to this, and odds are, you're not all that popular for your deeds yet."

"I guess..."

He heard hoofsteps quickly approach him from the east. As he turned to look, he saw a little filly quickly approaching. "You! I need your - help!" She took a breath before stopping in front of him. "You're the - army of one, - right?"

"Well... It's supposed to be anonymously me, but yeah." Link recognized this filly as Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle.

"I need your - help," she managed.

"You said that already," he said, kneeling to her level. "What happened?"

After Sweetie gathered her breath, she said, "A pony from my school got - " She took a few more, before finishing, "swallowed!"

"Hefty claim. What could swallow a pony? What would even want to?" Link thought, standing.

Sweetie answered, "The Everfree Forest!"

Author's Note

Same format for the conversation as last time.

And, here's a question for you. Should I:

Cover what Twilight was up to while Link and Navi were gone?
Continue with the Everfree Forest issue? Or
Stay behind and have Emmy explain herself to Rainbow Dash?