"Well, here it is. I think."

"Oh, excellent! This is a piece of the harp! I knew I could count on you three!"

Link handed the harp fragment to Mandgrova, and she placed it on a pedestal in the middle of the dried fountain. She turned back towards the group and bowed her head at them.

"Thanks to you, miss fairy, and your friends, Fairy Valley and the civilization of Plurbiocris shall again prosper! Was there any trouble in collecting the harp piece?"

Link's mind immediately went to the tree stump full of peahats... and the wound Saria had suffered from them.

"Well, there may have been a bit of trouble, but nothing these two can't handle!"

"My fairy friend here exaggerates our talent, it was quite a fight."

"Oh dear, I was afraid of that..."

"Afraid of what?"

"As I have told you, the Great Fairy Harp contains powerful life magic, the likes of which most beings are attracted to. Some monsters may have fed off of its energy, and become extremely powerful and hostile."

"That sounds about right."

"Well, if that is the case, I must give you a warning; the longer a monster has been feeding off of the harp's energy, the stronger and more rage filled the beast shall be. I would recommend you deal with them as soon as possible, lest you be overpowered."

Something angrier than the Peahat Queen did not sound like a fun deal. Link had been through worse though, had he not? Saria on the other hand... she had yet to completely master the art of combat, this would certainly be a trial for her.

"Well, where is the next piece of the harp?"

"I believe it flew to a hole in the Northwest, but it is not a natural hole, no, it was dug."

"Dug?"

"Yes, it's a mine. The harp lies in the very bottom of it, where no creature with sense would dare go. It is the molten rivers, a land so hot, even the Gorons cannot go down there without protection!"

"Yikes! I thought Gorons were fireproof?"

"They are, child, but it is hotter than fire itself down there! I fear you two children may need some form of protection before you venture down into the land of flame."

Protection. If he were at Death Mountain, Link would have simply purchased a Goron tunic, perhaps a similar object existed nearby?

"Oh gosh, I always hated the heat... where could we get protection?"

"Ask around, my child. Perhaps someone around here knows of something."

Link, Saria, and Mari exited the small shack that housed the path to the underground fairy fountain. It was night now, it had taken them most of the day to walk back to Plurbiocris. Shady figures loomed around every corner, some conversed with each other, others walked through the streets alone.

"Where are we supposed to find heat protection at this hour? All the shops are probably closed, and these people don't look like the kind you want to do business with."

"My my, gotten yourself into a pickle, have you, fairy?"

A mysterious and airy voice called from behind them. Link drew his sword and whipped around to face the man nearly too fast for the eye to see. He pointed his blade at the silhouette's face.

"Easy there, boy. I mean no harm, you know me!"

The man stepped into the moonlight and flashed his eerie grin. It was the happy mask salesman again.

"I overheard you need heat protection, you're going to the molten rivers, are you not?"

"How did you-"

"Ha ha! Little girl, I now many things about faces, it is my job to pair masks with faces, after all. Yours says more than you would think. More indeed!"

"Link, I'm beginning to see why you're so tense around this guy..."

"I know where you can get heat protection, all I want is for you to find me the boy with that Deku mask."

"You mean this one?"

Saria pulled out the mask that Junior, the Mayor Briggi's son, gave to her. She showed it to the happy mask salesman, and he freaked out.

"Augh! What have you done!?"

"What? Did I scratch it?"

"No! Girl, I wanted the boy, not the mask! I was going to tell him he could keep it, as long as it made him happy!"

"Oh... er... sorry?"

As quickly as he had made a fuss, the man calmed down.

"No matter... no matter... Simply give him the mask and tell him it was a gift. Then, I will tell you where you can get the best heat protection in the land!"

"Yes sir! I guess we're going back to the forest then?"

Saria glanced at Link, and realized he was still pointing his sword at the smiling man.

"What in Farore's name happened between the two of you?"

"Nothing much, child. It was but three days. Three days can change a person, can't they, boy?"

Link did not so much as blink. He looked almost frozen in fear by the man.

"Whatever happened, I need to hear that story one day. For now, we've got somewhere to go. C'mon Link."

Saria started walking, but Link did not follow.

"Link?"

She tapped him on the shoulder, and then he jumped. He took a look around himself, as if he had been standing somewhere else, and then shook his head. That man brought him many bad memories. Link regained his composure, and started walking toward the gate.

"Oho! Looks like you aren't the only one keeping secrets, girl!"

"Wha-"

"I already told you, your face speaks volumes to me. Now then, you had best get going with your friend, the world isn't a happy place to travel alone at night."

"But-... okay..."

Saria walked after Link, but kept a glare on the happy mask salesman.

"Sheesh, that guy is creepy."

Author's Note

Would you look at that, I managed to pop out another chapter before Christmas, fancy that!
Feedback is appreciated, don't be afraid to review, I want your opinions!