"So, wait," Sonic interrupted, holding up one hand. "These masks. They're not just masks, they turn you into stuff?"

"Some of them," Silver answered. "I got three more that actually changed my form, and one more that altered it significantly while also leaving me in whatever form I was in at the time. I collected a lot of other masks too though, and some of them had their own magic."

"Still got them?" Knuckles asked, interested.

"Of course. Well – all except one. I didn't think it was safe to keep it, so I had the self proclaimed Happy Mask Man to keep it." Silver stopped and looked at them all. "Alright, but I'm not going to go to my Deku form," he sighed. "I never really felt comfortable with it."

"Hylian then?" Tails suggested. "How did that mask work, by the way?"

"You mean did it give me the image back or transform me?" Silver asked, reaching into the pouch to find it. "Let me tell the story and you'll find out," he told them, then put the mask on before continuing.

Since I knew well the likely reaction I'd see if I exited the Clock Tower as myself, let alone some of the issues I might face if I wanted to deal with the Bombers again, I decided it was probably in my best interests to appear to be Hylian – or here, human.

Of course, no matter which form I chose, this meant actually wearing the mask, and despite the Mask Man's assurance that I could remove the mask again, logically this made no sense. If I wore the Deku Mask I'd become a Deku, and there would be no mask – how then to remove it?

Despite various concerns I decided there was no time like the present – literally speaking, since time outside the Clock Tower was still paused until I left – and put the Hylian mask somewhat awkwardly over my own features.

I won't even try to describe what happened next. There was a strange sound that I still can't put a word to, the feeling that the mask had somehow adhered to my face, then the sense that my entire body was melting, being changed into the new form.

It was not exactly a nice feeling. I've since had to change form so many times I've grown used to it, but I also later learned the lesson of not changing form too quickly after having something to eat. Believe me, bad idea. Especially when what you've just eaten isn't normal cuisine for the form you take on.

I still bore my green tunic and boots, and since I had spent plenty of time in Hyrule looking at myself and seeing the image of a Hylian boy, what I looked like was not a surprise to me. What was a surprise was that this was not just an image – I even felt Hylian now. There was no real hedgehog concealed from view underneath, if a doctor had examined me he'd have proclaimed me to be a healthy young Hylian.

"Why bother with that?" Tael asked, apparently not having followed my idea behind this.

"Think about it," I said, then winced slightly. My voice had changed too now. I even sounded like the young boy I looked like. "There are Hylian – humans," I corrected. "Everywhere. We're going to be dealing with them a lot, and you heard what the Bombers said. You also saw how much attention I got as a Deku Scrub, so if they see my real self..."

"Point taken. So now you're... well, back to normal I guess... we can go save the world. Swamp first, I think."

"Hold on a moment. Didn't the Great Fairy ask us to restore her again? And now I've got the Ocarina of Time, I'm sure she said if we used that too, it'd keep her restored no matter how many times we go back in time."

"Oh, right. Well I suppose it's not as if we're all that short on time, if we need more we can just... start over. You realize what this means, don't you?"

"Probably, but go on," I prompted.

"Well, how does this sound? One run through, we go helping people, buying or getting useful stuff and all that. Next day, we go save one of the guardians. Switch between them. We just have to remember to make that Ocarina of yours protect the Guardians too, that way we won't have to save them every time."

I thought that through, then smiled. It was like a video game that didn't progress unless you did the key events. I could take all the time I wanted to do the side quests, and never have to worry about time.

"Well now," I murmured. "Isn't that interesting? Why don't we start with a 'helping' day, Tael?"

"Why not, you've already got the Great Fairy to help."

And so in the form of a Hylian boy with various concerns about time forgotten, I stepped back out into the dawn of the first day.

As this was identical to the last set of three days, and to all the following sets, I knew the Great Fairy had been shattered again, and that all but one Stray Fairy had made its way back, that last one found in the laundry pool.

I found almost immediately that the crowds reacted much better to me wandering through. I had no need to avoid being kicked over by people who didn't look down, no one ignored squeaked 'excuse me's when it was said by a human voice instead, and though at times I still had to push my way through, it was a significant improvement from my treatment as a Deku Scrub. I wasn't remarkable at all. Which was somewhat of a novelty.

Tael was not impressed however.

"You could just fly over again," he told me, hovering beside my ear to be heard.

"You saw the reaction-"

"I know, I know," he sighed. "It'd draw attention, and we don't want that."

"If it bothers you that much, next time we start over I'll do it as myself and we'll see what happens."

"I'm alright with your choice of form now I understand, it's just I want to see everyone's jaws drop when they see this boy in green lounging in mid-air as he goes about his business."

"Don't think I haven't been tempted before," I chuckled, escaping the crowds to take the route down to the relatively quieter laundry pool, which was exactly how I remembered it. The Stray Fairy hovered above the water, which was still out of my reach. And this time while I could swim, I couldn't skim the water.

I had to come up with an alternative solution, so while I took to the bench nearby and decided now was a good time to re-arm myself, restoring the Kokiri sword and a sheath the Goddesses had given it on my return from Hyrule's future, putting the shield back in place and generally feeling much better for knowing that I looked like a Hero again. It was a stupid reason, but after having been a relatively harmless Deku Scrub, I needed it.

The Stray Fairy during all of this, floated up to the other end of the stream, though still above it. I followed, and it flew to the far side, then back downstream again. Again I followed and it found somewhere else to be.

I sighed, then reached back with my mind to ensure no one was coming. "Alright," I said. "We do this my way then." And rose up. Though it wasn't necessary, Tael moved to keep watch in case anyone was coming, while I joined the startled fairy. "You do want to get back to the other Stray Fairies waiting for you, don't you?" I asked it. It apparently decided to come with me, since it followed when I returned to solid ground.

"And you weren't going to show off," Tael told me in mock admonishment.

"I was trying not to. You know, this doesn't feel right to me," I grumbled.

"What, being human?"

"Right. When you saw it before, it was just an image, I was my normal self underneath."

"Wait, you're – I mean some of you would have stuck out and been visible."

"Yeah, don't ask me how it worked, alright? I just know it does. Anyway, this time..." I paused and looked myself over again. It was still familiar, but actually being Hylian still felt different. "I don't know. Maybe it's because I've got no fur like this. Bare arms and legs... I kinda feel naked without any fur."

"You're young. You'll be fine," Tael said offhand. "Remember the way?"

"Don't be silly, of course I do. And we still have Tingle's map."

"We do?"

"Of course, I saw it in my pouch while I was getting everything out again. By the looks of it, anything in there is kept safe. Even the last of the Deku Nuts we found are still in there."

"Shame your savings in the bank weren't saved," he remarked.

I decided as he made the remark that I had to find out for sure. Since I regularly stored the ocarina in the same pouch, maybe the same effect I'd extend to the Great Fairy would also be on the rupees? We made a side trip up through the west of town where I patronized the bank once again, finding that, yes, I already had an account open under the name of Silver, with the exact amount I'd put in before. Somehow, it'd been saved.

To avoid seeming strange I made a little addition to the account while I was there before I moved on, passing the Bomber who I'd caught in this part of town before. When I reached the north gate I spotted the crazy lunatic Tingle and Jim, one hanging from a balloon, the other trying to shoot a balloon down. The various children both Deku and human were playing, but there was no gaggle of gawking Scrubs this time.

Once the Great Fairy had been restored a second time, reappearing the same way, she simply reached down and touched the Ocarina of Time in my hand.

"That's all I needed," she told me. "Or have we had this conversation already? I'm afraid I don't remember the last time, if there was a last time."

"There was," I confirmed. "You lifted the block on my mind that came from being forced into Deku form, told me I should stop by the Observatory, and to come restore you again and use the Ocarina to make sure you'd be preserved next time I play the Song of Time."

The Great Fairy leaned back, considering this, then nodded. "Yes, that sounds about right to me. Well, as thanks and to help you help my sisters, take this," she told me, extending her hand again. In the palm of it was a mask that resembled her. "The Great Fairy's mask. When worn, pay attention to the hair, as it will shimmer if there is a Stray Fairy nearby. It will also make them recognise you as a friend, coming to you if they can instead of staying warily away."

"Now that's useful," Tael remarked as I took the mask and tucked it safely away.

"Indeed," she agreed. "Now Silver, I've more advice for you, which sounds strange since I don't remember giving you advice before, but you did say so, so there. I suggest you visit the Observatory again, and make sure when you leave you still have the same form you do now. I won't spoil what happens, but bring the item you obtain to me – the one you'll get when you leave – and I'll help you yet again. If you should choose to dedicate time to helping people, you'll find it exceptionally helpful, even pointing out things you wouldn't normally be aware of."

"And what'd I say?" Tael said smugly. "Helping people is gonna pay off for sure. You do remember the Bomber's code, don't you? Or are we gonna have to play with them again?"

"24315," I answered. "Thanks for your help and advice, Great Fairy. I'll give you your Hylian sisters regards again, since you probably don't remember that either, but I ought to get to work. I've only got three days to help as many people as I can before it's Heroing time again."