The four boys had just left after being given breakfast by the kind cucco owning woman and her family before they set off for Death Mountain. They walked on until they got to the gate that lead up there, but couldn't go any further due to the guard nearby keeping it closed.

"Sorry kids. No one's allowed past this point without permission from the King of Hyrule." stated the guard with his hand up.

"Pardon me, but we have a letter." Edd said before Link pulled out Zelda's letter and handed it to the guard to read.

These four are Link, Ed, Edd, and Eddy. They are under my orders to save the world!

-Princess Zelda

"...pfft...pfffft BWAHAHAHAHAHA!" the guard laughed before falling to his knees and hitting the ground with his fist. The four of them watched the guard laugh before Ed began to burst out in laughter alongside. "AHAHA! Ooohh! Oh man! I really needed that laugh! That's just so funny!"

"Aw, come on!" Eddy snapped. "That's a real letter from Princess Zelda!"

"I...I know!" the guard wheezed as he used to spear to steady himself as he got to his feet. "I recognize her handwriting!"

"Then why are you laughing?" Edd asked.

"Because it's funny! You four kids save the world? I don't know what's gotten into Princess Zelda, but that's just funny!" the guard laughed.

"Can we go up to Death Mountain now Mister?" Ed asked with a smile.

"Huh? Oh, sure. You do have Princess Zelda's official permission to do so." said the guard before he opened the gate. "Still, I should advise that you properly equip yourselves before making the trek up there."

"What's wrong with our current gear?" Link asked.

"It's an active volcano," the guard said. "How will you defend yourselves from fallen debris?"

"That's...a good question." Eddy said as all but Ed looked down, feeling like idiots for not thinking this thing through.

"Look, they sell Hylian Shields at the Marketplace in Hyrule Castle Town." the guard explained. "Tell them I sent you, and you should get a discount."

"Really? Thank you!" Edd said happily.

"Actually, I have a favor to ask," the guard said. "A new shop has opened up recently in Hyrule Castle Town called the Happy Mask Shop. Keaton stuff is hot now, and my little boy has been asking me to get him a Keaton mask. I can't leave my post, so I was hoping you four would go and see what you can do in my place. You don't have to. I'm just asking."

"Well, we'll have to head back now anyway to get properly equiped," Edd said with a smile. "It won't be much to check on this new shop."

"Thanks." said the guard as he waved them off.

-In the Marketplace-

The four boys entered the Marketplace before searching for the shop that sells Hylian Shields. After asking a nearby pedestrian for directions, they were pointed to a shop with a bearded man's head above the door. They walked in to see the owner of the shop, and the one who's head was painted above the door, behind the countertop.

"Hey there squirts!" the man greeted. "What can I do fer ya?" After the four of them explained the situation, the man scratched his beard. "I see. Well, if you were told to come here by that guard, then I'll give ya a discount. One Hylian Shield at half off comes to 40 Rupees."

"Sold." Link said before pulling out enough rupees and handing it to the man.

"A little information about these shields," said the owner as he pulled a shield off the shelves behind. "These shields can withstand fire attacks, unlike that little shield ya got there. They're the norm for all Hylian Knights, but they only come in adult size. I have a feeling that your yellow skinned friend here will be the only one who can wield it without any problems."

"I'll say," Eddy said as they held up the shield. It was a metal shield with a blue background, a red bird with it's wings spread wide. Above it were three golden triangles, and a four under it. It stood almost at Link size when held up. "This thing is big!"

"I just said it was adult sized!" the owner repeated before whispering into Edd's ear. "Your friend here doesn't listen very much, does he?"

"Not to me. Not to anyone." Edd sighed before thanking the owner and leaving with his friends.

"Okay. We've got a shield. Now what?" Eddy asked.

"We look for the Happy Mask Shop and purchase the Keaton Mask the guard asked us for." Edd reminded him.

"The Happy Mask shop?" The four boys turned to see a man with red hair and green clothing on the street begging to buy things from people. "It's over there. But I wouldn't go there if I were you. The Happy Mask Salesman is...peculiar."

"Well...thanks for that." Eddy said.

"Of course. Now, mind selling me anything you don't want?" said the man as he began to do some weird begging dance.

"No thanks. We're good." Link said before they followed where he pointed and found themselves in front of the Happy Mask Shop.

"I wonder if they have all kinds of funny masks to try out!" Ed said with a big grin.

"Only one way to find out." Edd said before they all entered the shop. The inside was very strange indeed. The counter and above it looked like a giant mask of someone opening their mouth wide. The shelves were bare, save for two masks. And the owner was creeping them out. He was a man with neat red hair and fancy looking purple clothing and a smile on his face with his eyes closed.

"Hiyee!" greeted the Happy Mask Salesman. "Welcome to the Happy Mask Shop!"

"Uh, greetings!" Edd said, trying to hide his unnerved tone. "My friends and I were hoping to purchase a mask from your establishment." The man only laughed as if he heard a funny joke.

"Silly children. I don't sell masks." the man laughed. The four of them stared at the man for a few moments before Eddy broke the silence.

"What?"

"I don't sell masks," the man repeated. "I lend them to others, they sell the masks, they bring back the profit, and everyone's happy!" he explained, his smile never wavering. "So, how would you four like to become Happy Mask Salesmen?"

"Right," Eddy said with a smile of his own. "One second!" he said before pulling his friends into a huddle. "This guy's off his rocker!"

"I'll say. That's a strange way to run a shop." Link whispered.

"It is his shop," Edd stated. "He is allowed to run his business any way he sees fit."

"And we can wear cool masks for free!" Ed added.

"Hey, Ed's right! If we're just being the salesmen, then we don't have to pay a cent!" Eddy said with a big grin.

"Cent?" Link asked.

"A word to describe currency from our world." Edd explained.

"Well, we came here for a mask, so let's get one." Link finished. They all nodded before turning back to the salesman. "We'd like to become Happy Mask Salesmen!"

"Excellent!" said the man before handing them a fox mask. "This is our Keaton Mask! The selling price is 10 rupees. When you sell him, bring the money back here, and I'll give you a new mask to sell! Have fun!" the man said with a wave.

"Bye bye!" Ed yelled as he waved back with a smile as they left. "He was nice!"

"He was very disturbing." Edd corrected before they all began for Kakariko Village.

"Hey guys!" Ed shouted as he wore the mask. "How do I look?"

"Like an idiot in a mask." Eddy answered.

"It almost blends in with his skin." Link whispered to Edd.

"Almost doesn't look like he's wearing a mask." Edd whispered back.

-Entrace to Death Mountain-

The four of them had gone back to sell the mask to the guard, who was all too happy to get the mask his son wanted.

"You've gotten it?! Great! Thank you!" said the man before paying them 15 rupees.

'Score!' Eddy thought as he pocketed the extra rupees while Ed took the mask off and gave it to the guard, who wore it himself.

"My little boy will be happy with this! Thank you!" the guard said in joy.

"Well, we got your mask, now we're going up. Later!" Eddy said before he and the others began their ascent up Death Mountain, leaving the guard with his new mask. The guard returned to staring out at Kakariko Village before taking a few small whiffs from inside the mask.

"Are the masks supposed to smell this funky?" he asked himself.