"That was great! Why haven't you ever taken me on a ride before?"

"Probably because the last time you two saw each other, Link had never rode a horse!"

"Yeah... it has been a while."

Link and Saria dismounted Epona, and they walked through the main gate of Plurbiocris, leaving the horse to wander in the field.

"Are you sure we should just let her roam like that? What if someone catches her again?"

"Then Link can set her free again. I'm sure he knows what he's doing."

Mari floated over to Link's ear, and whispered in hopes that Saria wouldn't hear her. She did however.

"You do know what you're doing, right?"

Link twisted his head and gave her a smug grin. Saria giggled at the little fairy's indecisiveness. The town was now much more lively in comparison to night, but it still had an odd feeling of emptiness, a missing vigor.

"So... we gave the boy the mask, where is that guy at? The mask guy."

"Ahahaha! Looking for me, dear fairy?"

For the third time, the happy mask salesman snuck up behind the group, and flashed his toothy smile. Link was not caught off guard by the man this time, but he still felt a bit unsettled just by looking at him.

"So, have you done it? Have you given the little brat the mask?"

"Yes sir... are you going to tell us where we can get some heat protection now?"

"Of course, fairy girl! But first... might I ask, where's my money?"

"Money? We already delivered your mask for you, what do you need money for?"

"The mask silly! You two were working as happiness salesmen for me, were you not?"

"I don't recall-"

"My terms and conditions clearly state that any due payment is to come from the client! Regardless of whether he gave you cash or not, you must pay for the mask in full. Where's my money, hm?"

This looney man had Saria bewildered, they didn't agree to anything but to return the mask! Link, on the other hand, had a feeling the there was going to be some sort of chicanery in the mix, as there always was with the happy mask salesman. He was trying to trick them into paying for the stolen mask.

"But we... we don't owe you anything!"

In an instant, the man's face went from happy, to crazed. He grabbed Saria by the shoulders and started shaking her wildly.

"Listen girl! If you don't get me my money, by local law, I can do whatever I want to you! I'm capable of some crazy things kid! Things you don't want to get entangled with! Get me?! So when I say 'where's my money', you say?!"

"L-leave me alone!"

"Let go of Saria you brute!"

"Wrong answer kid! I'll give you one more try! I say 'where's my money', WHAT DO YOU SAY?!"

Saria burst into tears from the man's violent behavior. He had done nothing to harm her yet, but she was scared by his sudden outburst. Link would stand for none of this, his face turned redder and redder with rage as he watched the happy mask salesman shake his friend around and scream at her. He pulled out his wallet, and hurled it at the man with all his strength, hitting him square in the face. After rearing his head to the side from the impact, the happy mask salesman froze, let go of Saria, and returned to his usual grinning self. He picked up the small bag and poured its contents into his hand.

"My my boy, I'm afraid I can't accept all this, you can keep the rest."

The man picked up three blue rupees, and put the rest back in the pouch. He handed the wallet back to Link and smiled at the two children.

"There is an archery contest in the east plaza, the prize there is two tunics, both with magically enhanced capabilities, allowing the wearer to survive flames hotter than even the pits of Din! Have a good day you two! Remember, smiling makes everyone around you happier!"

As abruptly as he arrived, the happy mask salesman left, leaving Saria in a mess on the ground.

"Wha... what was that about?"

"That guy is crazy, we should try and keep away from him in the future."

"I think crazy is understating it. Insane describes him better."

"All that fuss and he only wanted fifteen rupees? That's hardly a decent meal... Anyway, assuming this guy can be trusted, we should be heading to the east side of town."

"Fifteen rupees?! That guy scared me senseless and that's all he wanted?! Something is definitely off about him! I see why you feel the way you do about him now, Link. He's just flat out a creep!"

Link helped Saria off the dirt pathway, her face still wet with tears, and his face still red with anger. Nobody messes with his friends, especially not Saria. Maybe it was just that he had known her all his life and grown up with her as his only friend, but he couldn't stand to see her sad. Maybe it was because of how gloomy she looked when they were separated by her becoming a sage and him the Hero of Time, or perhaps it was just how innocent she was, having grown up in the forest without any bad things from the outside world to pollute her thoughts. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her while she was at his side, that much was for sure.

Link, Saria, and Mari got themselves together again, and headed for the east side of the town.

Once they had worked their way to the eastern half of Plurbiocris, it wasn't too hard for the two children and fairy to locate the plaza the happy mask salesman was referring to. It was a large cleared area covered in stone walkways, filled with a hair more life than the rest of the town. There appeared to be a competition of sorts going on, but few people were actually participating in it. A skinny man with a short afro of frizzy nougat hair ran the tournament from a booth.

"Come one, come all! Participate in the archery tournament for a chance to win a pot of rupees, and these beautiful one of a kind red tunics! One size fits all! Get one for you, and your best friend! Be all the envy of Plurbiocris with your sharpshooting skills!"

Link walked up to the booth, and Saria followed shortly behind. Mari, on the other hand, hid in Saria's hair again, afraid that someone would try and stuff her in a bottle.

"Hello you two, care to sign up for the archery tournament? Twenty five rupees per contestant. You gotta bring your own bow."

The kids exchanged glances, then Saria nodded.

"You're the better shot anyway, I guess I'm sitting out."

Link set a red rupee and a blue rupee on the table, the man appraised them and smiled.

"Step right in boy, you'll be in row three. As for you, little girl, the seating is over there."

"See ya Link, good luck!"