Twilight woke up very early the following day. Early enough to see Link asleep in his bed, and Navi beside it. With a smile, she walked quietly over to him and looked over him. Slowly, she lit up her horn for some light.

13 years old... at last. Feels like it was just yesterday you were crawling around the castle floors. She dimmed her horn and walked to the door. It creaked not once as she opened and closed it from the other side. Now out of earshot, incapable of waking him up, she sighed and walked down the stairs to see Epona awake. "You're certainly up early. Or maybe you've been up all night."

"I am?" Epona wondered. She looked out the window to see a sunless sky. "Guess I woke up too early. But then again, so did you, Twilight."

Twilight walked to the table and sat. "Yeah, I am too. Link turns 13 today. And he already invited everypony. You'll be staying here today, yes?" Epona nodded and closed her book. "Good. Aside from you, I know the rest of our friends will likely be here. He never told me who he invited, but I'm sure our friends are guaranteed to show."

"You mean you don't know? For absolute certainty?" Epona questioned her. "I would think he'd tell you if nopony else."

"He's been ... secretive, ever since we met. I don't really know why. But, it'll be one of his greatest virtues. Or personality quirks if secrecy isn't a virtue." Twilight walked over to a shelf of books and looked behind them. Then, she levitated a box from behind them and moved it back to the table. "This, as you may know, is his gift from me. I want to thank you again for going along with our plan. I know how difficult it must have been, setting him up like that."

"You have no idea," Epona replied. "I look up to him. Like, he means the world to me, and I just met him. I can't explain it... It's not love or anything like that... I just... Respect him greatly." Twilight looked a little confused. "Like, hmm..." Epona looked around, then back to Twilight. "Have you ever just met somepony and feel like you've known them your whole life? That feeling is what I got from him, when we first met."

"No, I can't say I have. But it must be a wonderful feeling." Twilight looked over to her and asked, "You got him something too, right?"

Epona nodded. "I did, but I want to wait for everypony else to give him theirs before I give him mine. If that's alright."

Twilight agreed and looked out the window, seeing the sun break over the horizon. "Sun's coming up. Link's going to wake up any minute. His internal clock is incredible. Every morning, when the sun comes up, he wakes up immediately."

"Wow, how regimented." Twilight nodded, then walked to the base of the stairs. "Hey, what are you doing..."

"Giving him a wake up call..."

Link woke from his slumber and stretched himself out. After focusing for a moment, he noticed Twilight's empty bed. She's up before me. That's rare. "Hm?"

Navi had woken up just before him and was sitting on the edge of the side table on his hat. "Good morning Link. Happy birthday to you." She flew up and latched onto his cheek, hugging him and smiling.

Every year it's this. She squeezes my cheek and wishes me the best day ever. "Thank you Navi. It's just too bad I don't really know your birthday." Link stood up and began stretching.

"I've told you, fairies don't age at the same rate that hylians do. We age so slowly after we've matured, it's like I'm standing still." She released him and flew around him. "Now, while you're stretching, I wanna ask you: What do you make of that shadow in the woods?"

Link hesitated, then answered, "That shadow pony, right? Now that I've calmed down, I've come to the conclusion that it's a manifestation of darkness left behind by Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago. Not all of her dark magic went with her. The piece that remained is able to take the form of other living creatures, like we saw when Dash went up against the Shadowbolts. But, the way it retreated into the forest makes me believe its confined within the woods, or had the presence of mind not to be seen with the original." He sat and stretched, reaching for his feet. "I'm thinking of visiting Ruby and Zecora in a few days, to see if they know anything. They live in the woods, surely they might have some information..."

"That sounds a lot better than a ghost," Navi admitted. "Glad you thought it through."

Link stood and shook himself awake completely. After getting his day clothes on, he went to the door. "Well, I kinda couldn't not think it out. Analyzing is like second nature. It's just something I do without thinking. But I guess, at the time, my mind jumped to the most logical conclusion."

He opened the door and walked to the stairs, seeing Twilight at the bottom with a smile. "Happy birthday Link!" With emphasis on his name, she shot a ball of energy at his face. It was so unexpected, he tried to get his shield up in time. The ball was moving too fast and he was too late, and he knew it the instant it made contact with his face.

"Ugh, Twilight! What in Equestria was that for?!" he cried, fixing his hair.

"You are off your game. Had you been alert, you'd have blocked that shot easy." Link sighed and walked down the stairs. He saw Epona's shocked face, then looked back to Twilight. "You may be off duty, but that does not excuse your laziness."

"'Laziness'? How am I being lazy?" he asked, sitting on the floor at the table.

Twilight walked beside him and sat as well. "You've done next to nothing to keep yourself in shape. Mind or body. Stretching will only go so far. Exercises will ensure you are fit to return at any moment. So, until that time comes, expect me to give you tests. Like the one you just failed."

"Joy," Link replied, unamused. "Hey, Twilight. When can I get my gifts?"

"I'd give you mine, but the others aren't here yet. So when they all get here, you can open them."

"Noon then." Link looked outside the window and saw the sun had risen completely. "We've got some time before guests start showing up. What would you like to do until then? Huh?" He saw Twilight had already pulled out a chess board and its 32 pieces. "A game of chess?"

"Why not? I heard you'd prefer that over tic-tac-toe, and I figured I could give you a challenge. I may not be very good now, but I've got a basic understanding of piece movement." Twilight set the board up and the pieces in their place. "Epona, would you like to watch?"

"Sure." Epona alked beside the board and sat, looking down at it. Link's black, and Twilight's white. Bad draw, she's got the advantage. Maybe she's expecting to be worse, so she's given herself the first-move advantage?

Twilight's opening move... She knows she's new to the game, and gave herself the opening advantage. Link watched... And waited.

8 in the morning came about as Link and Twilight finished their "best of three tie-breaker" game of chess. Link had won the first, and closely lost the second. He could tell Twilight was learning quickly and stepped it up, making fewer mistakes and leaving little openings. In the end, Link managed to win, but only by pure luck. He had saw a rare, unintentional opening in Twilight's defense. Having taken her bishop, he put her in check-mate that he didn't even see at first.

"Wait, wait, that is not check-mate..." she denied, looking about the board. "let's see..."

"Great game. You're improving very fast. huh?"

"no, that's not... ugh... check-mate!" She looked up at him and reset the board. "One more!"

"Twilight, it was best of three. I won. Maybe we can play against one of the other guests when they get here..." Link looked at the clock, then to the door. Coincidentally, there was a knock. "Speak of the underworld's ruling power." He opened the door and saw Pinkie pushing a similar cart to the one from a few days back. "Pinkie's here, Twilight. Maybe you can play against her?"

"Pinkie? I'm somehow not surprised you're here before anypony else," Twilight admitted, walking towards her. "What's in the box?" she asked, looking at the cart Pinkie pushed.

"A present for Link, silly. Didn't you know it's his birthday today?" Pinkie laughed then pushed the cart aside. "Whatcha got goin' on in here?"

"Chess," Epona answered. "And Link won two of three games against Twilight. Each game was really close, though I don't know much about it. I'm thinking of reading a book on it. Twilight, is there one you'd recommend?"

Twilight looked at the shelves and dragged a book from high up. "35 Ways To Play Chess is a great place to start. It's also the only one on the subject this library has available. Seems there's a pony out there with a few others, but since this is a library, he's likely to return them eventually."

Epona took the book and looked at the cover, which featured a black queen, white rook and bishop, as well as a few pawns of either color. "Interesting... Why only 35 ways?"

"One for each direction the pieces move collectively. It's a beginner's book, meant to teach basics of movement." Twilight looked once again to Pinkie. "Do you play?"

"Not too often, but I know my way around the kingside castle. Why you ask?" Pinkie inquired, looking over the board.

"Epona, if you'd like, I'm sure Pinkie would be happy to play a teaching game with you." Pinkie nodded in agreement.

Unfortunately, Epona shrugged at the notion. "Well, I don't know... what a teaching game is..."

Half an hour later, Pinkie ended the game soundly beaten, but not worried as that is the point of a teaching game. Thrilled with her first victory, she was easily brushed aside with Pinkie's next comment.

"I went incredibly easy on you, for the record. Tic-tac-toe may be a fun game, but, for chess, as Link once put, 'No matter the skill level, there's always a winner.' It just happened to be you." Pinkie reset the board and looked over at the door. "Ooh, somepony's here!"

Quickly, Twilight opened the door to find Rarity in a nice summer hat. "It's Rarity. Come on in." As the designer entered the room, she saw Link had joined Twilight in welcoming her.

"Ah, Link. Happy birthday to you. Nothing looks different about you... No gifts yet?" Link shook his head. "Waiting for everypony else?" Then he nodded. I see. Well, as you requested, I brought nothing with me for you. But you still have my best wishes."

"Thank you. For showing up and heeding my own request. Spike made us breakfast already, so I hope you've eaten." Rarity nodded and placed her hat on the table.

"I couldn't help but notice you were a bit late to the party. By about half an hour." Twilight questioned. "Pinkie showed up at 8."

"About that... see, I couldn't find the right hat, so I took some time to find the right one. I do so hope you understand," she tried.

Twilight nodded. "You're here now and that's what matters."

"I agree," Link said. "Do make yourself comfortable." Rarity did so by sitting on the couch. "So how are your other orders coming along?"

"I finished them just last night. To be honest, I'd have been done sooner, had I received some help in certain areas. Having another crafting hoof to aid me would be useful."

Twilight shook her head in reply. "Sorry, Rarity. I can't help you there. I don't know anything about sewing, or design, or fabric, or even thread. Aside from what I helped with when making Link's garments, I've never even dabbled in being a weaver."

"I must agree," Link added, "I'm not great with needle and thread. Get a tear in my clothes? Quick fix, not a lasting solution. Sorry."

"It's not all your fault. It's just me being tired of working on outfits on my own. I don't mind the quiet, but it'd be nice to have somepony to talk to. Like you do with Navi, and Twilight has with Spike." Rarity shrugged and looked at Epona. "So, my dear, how are you finding Ponyville?"

"I'm not your dear." The statement caused the others to look at her. "Or your darling, or your love, or your sweetie. I'm Epona, and I ask that you call me as such."

"I, apologize, Epona. I meant no offense. I call everypony 'dear', and on occasion 'darling'. But 'sweetie'? That's my little sister Sweetie Belle. Again, I meant no offense." Rarity tried to ease the tension in the room caused by Epona's sudden personality change. "Is there anything besides Epona I'm alowed to call you at present?"

"You can call me Epona. For now. If we continue to be friends, I will add a few names to your available list." She turned to the others. "This goes for all of you. So you know, I don't handle 'names' very well, so if you have little mannerisms that deal with nicknames, please don't use them on me."

"Alright, then..." Twilight said. "Epona, you're ... alright... right?"

"I'm just fine, thanks for asking." Epona looked quietly at the others, who were all looking at her. "What?"

"I just never knew this about you. None of us did. It just goes to show how little we actually know about you." Twilight sat beside Epona and looked at her. "Is there anything else we need to know?"

After a half an hour dodging everypony's questions, Epona got up and walked toward Link, finally sitting at his side. In silence, the others looked at her with questioning looks. "Girls, the only thing I will say for now, is that when there's something wrong in the way of what I like, I will let you know. But if it's not relevant, I'd rather not spill my soul."

Everypony sighed. Twilight is the only pony who noticed Epona glance over at Link. Is Link really that high on her respect list if she's not talking without his permission. "And that's fine with us, right girls? We're understandable ponies."

"Thank you for your understanding." Epona nodded and looked down at the floor, feeling all of the others' harsh glares at her. Link looked at the others in silence, taking in their expressions.

Wow. I didn't know she was like this. Since I proved I was the one calling her, she's been incredibly nice and cooperative. But toward everypony else... she's blunt, and a bit forceful it seems... What's the term for that... Link thought of the word he was looking for while Twilight looked over at Pinkie.

"Hey, your game went well. Can you go a round with me? I want to know what I can learn from it too." Pinkie nodded and returned to the chess board as Rainbow flew in the window, knocking over several pieces and causing a few books to fall off the shelf. "Rainbow! You're here! Nice entry."

"Thanks. It was a snap. Nopony's hurt this time, right?" she asked, looking at her new surroundings.

"Honestly Rainbow Dash. Would it hurt you to use the door?" Rarity scolded.

Rainbow laughed it off but answered it all the same. "Only if the door was closed. And look, it's closed. Window was open, therefore, easier to get through. And happy birthday, kid! You get anything good?"

"Not yet. I'm waiting for the others to show up before opening anything." Link looked down at the reset board and noticed Pinkie's opening move was the same one he had done against Twilight in their first game.

"Want mine? I couldn't wrap it anyway." Rainbow saw him and smiled. "You know, if Twilight says it's alright..."

"Why would it matter if I gave permission? He's as much of an adult as any of us now," Twilight reinforced. "Big and old enough to make his own decisions."

"In that case, sure. Why not." He stood and approached her. "What have you got for me?"

Rainbow changed her smile to a smirk and pointed outside. "It's outside. Couldn't bring it in with me safely."

Link walked to the door, opened it and walked out, looking around to see nothing out of the ordinary. "I don't get it."

"Be right out there," Dash said, leaning in to Twilight. Quietly, she whispered something in Twilight's ear, earning a little chuckle, followed by a nod. Wordlessly, Dash turned to Link's exposed back, flew over to him and pushed him out with enough force to send him tumbling. "That's one. 12 more to go."

Link ended on his chest and got to his feet. "What was that for?!" he asked loudly.

"Oh you don't know? It's called a birthday beating. One for every year you've been alive!" Dash charged at him, and after a few exchanged blocks, she connected with his side and chest, pushing him back.

Link saw the others watch the show from the library door. "And this is supposed to do what, exactly..." he asked, keeping his guard up.

"It's a gift, kid." Dash flew in, and got him square on the chin. He barely was able do lean away from it, but still felt the impact as he tumbled to the side. As he rose to his feet, another kick to his chest sent him rolling backward. "But don't take it personally. I know you can take it."

"And you're letting her do this Twilight?" he almost shouted at his sister.

"Hey, like I said earlier: Gotta keep in shape!" she replied, clearly enjoying herself. She heard him grumble as he went on the offensive. He's getting all of these hits, and he's still standing. That last one I didn't even see. His sparring in the unicorn branch probably paled in close-quarters by comparison to this. She watched as several more hits landed, despite Link keeping his guard up. His leg, back, and left shoulder each took a hit.

"You keeping track kid?" Dash asked him, flying just inches off the ground.

How is she landing all these attacks? And through my defenses no less. I have my guard up, but she goes right through it. "8 so far. 5 more, right?"

Rainbow stopped her assault then looked at him cautiously. "Yeah. I was gonna correct you if you got it wrong."

Link stood with his arms out at his sides. Feet shoulder width apart, looking forward. "Then get it over with." Carefully, Dash flew over to him and landed in front of him. "Well?"

Hesitantly, she punched his chest, and to her surprise, he didn't try to block. Then, in a more relaxed state, she landed 3 more to his body with no push at all behind them. "Now you made it no fun. That's not fair."

"You still have one left. Make it count," he advised.

Dash chuckled, then flew back a few feet. "Okay, you asked for it!" Quickly, she charged him and knocked him off his feet, tackling him to the ground in a hug. "There. 13 hits. Happy birthday kid."

Link lay there, stunned. After climbing to his feet and seeing Dash step off of him, he admitted, "I don't understand..."

"The last hit is always a hug. Know why?" Link shook his head. "Life can beat you up. Sometimes by one of your friends. That hug at the end? Somepony will always be there to try to make you feel better. No matter what." Dash flew back to the others, followed by Link. "And don't worry if it doesn't make any sense. First time I asked why, I didn't understand it either."

The group returned inside and waited for another guest to come through the door.

This is getting ridiculous! Twilight thought as she paced in front of the door. First Pinkie and Rarity, the Dash. They're showing up in the same order I sent them in to occupy Link. He has to know what's going on. But I can't just tell him. No, that'd be admitting defeat. He's getting back at me, and he knows it's working.

"Having issues, Twilight?" Link asked, looking up from his game.

"Nope. I'm perfectly calm." She looked up at the clock. "Any second now, Applejack is going to come through this door."Link had returned to his game and chuckled. "You think I'm wrong, don't you? Well, I'm on to you, Link. I-" She heard a thud against the door and a mare on the other side moan in slight pain of impact. "That's not... huh?" Twilight opened the door as a gray mare fell to the floor in the doorway. "Uh..."

"Derpy! I'm glad you made it." He saw her get to her hooves and brush herself off. "Glad you're alright."

"I didn't make anything. You asked for nothing, remember? So I brought you nothing." She reached in to her side bag and pulled out a wrapped box. "I had a tough time getting it to stay inside the box, and a harder time getting the tape to stick. Didn't realize until halfway through the tape was inside out. Er, upside down."

Link gave a half-hearted smile and stepped to the side. "Well, come on in. And to rephrase, I'm glad you could be here."

"Oh, right. I got done with deliveries a bit early today. Another mailpony was nice enough to take my route and my mail." Derpy set her bags beside the door and looked at Twilight. "Oh, hi Twilight. You're here too."

"Yes. I live here." Twilight looked outside, then closed the door. Not Aj. I was... wrong? Then... where is she?

"Hey, new pony. I never heard your name before. What is it?" Derpy asked Epona. With no answer, and a growing look of concern spreading over Epona's face, Derpy offered her own. "I'm Derpy Hooves. I'm a mailmare working in Ponyville's post office."

"Epona. Nice to meet... you." Epona couldn't help but look at each of Derpy's eyes separately. And quickly between them. Which one do I look at? Which one's looking at me? "Uh... Link?"

"Yeah?" he responded. What's up?"

"This mare is..." Carefully, she articulated her description of the mare before her, "a most unique mare in both appearance and personality."

Derpy inhaled and replied, "Awww thank you! That's the nicest thing anypony's said to me today! We're gonna be great friends!" She smiled and walked to the bookshelves.

I didn't know she could read... Link thought. He changed his glance to Twilight, who still looked confused. And she's wondering where Aj is, since she was supposed to be here now. Won't be long before she goes out and gets her herself. "Twilight, What's on your mind?"

"Nothing. I'm just glad you invited her. I mean, it's nice that you're making your own friends." Nice one, Twilight. "It's your choice who to invite, and if you didn't invite Applejack, I can understand that."

"No, I did." Link looked at the door. "Noon. She'll be here at noon."

Twilight looked at him with an unsure expression. "Noon..." Link nodded. "Alright, but... Why so far apart?"

"Because I wanted to. I tried to space them apart enough so the party would grow instead of being big from the start." Link smiled and turned to his game again. "She'll be here, whether you have to retrieve her yourself or not," he muttered under his breath.

Only 20 minutes later, after Link received his first "gift", Twilight found herself again beside the door. Link had started a game of BattleClouds with Rainbow Dash, and a game of 2-on-1 chess against both Rarity and Epona. He occasionally glanced up at Twilight, who returned his look with her own each time. Skipping Aj, Fluttershy's next. True as predicted, a light tap was heard on the door. She opened it to reveal the pegasus she knew as Fluttershy in the doorway. "And here she is. Fluttershy, come on in." Twilight stepped aside and let her in.

"Is this everypony?" Twilight shook her head. Fluttershy looked around the room to see who was missing. "Still waiting on... Applejack, and ... oh, just her. That's odd." She walked over to Link and saw his games. "I thought you said Applejack was going to be here?"

"She is. Later. She'll be here later." He moved his knight and watched Epona lean over and whisper to Rarity. "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing. Happy birthday." Fluttershy joined Pinkie on the couch and looked back to Twilight. "What's got her so worked up?

"Oh, Twilight's just getting nervous because Applejack hasn't shown up yet and she thinks 'The day won't be as good if Aj's not here' and she'll be all mopey and sad and it'll all be Link's fault if she doesn't come, but if she does it'll sure show him." Pinkie looked at everyone else and saw their expressions.

"Now that, is a very tall tale. Me? Mopey? Sad? Not a chance in the world. Especially not so if Aj doesn't show up. What ever gave you the idea I was waiting for her specifically?" Now quiet, Twilight looked out the window. I really need to work on my delivery...

"Well, if that doesn't answer anything, I don't know what will." Rarity took her turn and looked back at Twilight. "Really, darling, you should have a seat before you twist your hoof pivoting like that."

Heedless, Twilight continued her walking. I'll have the last laugh. She's going to be here, or at the very least I'll find out why she can't or didn't. "Link... You said she'll be here later. When's 'Later'?"

"Noon," he answered. "Why?"

"Because if you must know, time is flowing and your birthday goes on, with or without her here. I would think you'd want all of your friends here. At the same time. Not sporadically through the morning." Twilight turned to him and walked his way. "You've been awfully dodgy the last few hours with certain worded questions. Now tell me, when, did you tell Applejack to be here?"

"Truthfully?" he asked, then thought. "I didn't tell her to come at all."

Twilight growled at him and asked in a deeper tone, "Why not?!"

"Because you two seem to be at odds with each other sometimes." Link tried to make it sound like something that could be brushed off. And it worked, as Twilight kept verbally pushing.

"We're not at odds! We don't argue, we don't fight, and we enjoy the other's company." Twilight caught her last statement and rephrased, "uh, with the rest of our friends. Equally. That said, this can't be a party if we're missing a warm body. I'm going to get her, tak to her, and get her to come back with me. Just you wait." Hastily she turned and ran out of the library.

"Twilight..." she heard him say before the door shut behind her.

She continued to the farm, walking the rest of the way, and spending half an hour to actually get there.

"Twilight..." Link called. The door shut with him and his friends inside. "Well, that happened. And I'm sorry for asking all of you to play along with this. Revenge is never the answer."

"Then why? Why'd you do it? All of it?" Dash asked. "Showing up half an hour apart, in the order we talked to you the last four days, and keeping Twilight out of the loop."

"I must agree with Rainbow. This kind of deceit is unbecoming of a lady. But you aren't one, so I suppose you don't count..." Rarity admitted. "While I do feel bad about it, I can only agree that what goes around comes around."

"I don't get it," Derpy admitted. "What's happening?"

"Right, I didn't actually tell you. See, the last four days have been Twilight setting me up to get me out of the library one way or another. And the only readily available method was her friends. Each one of them had their own distraction for me: a cake delivery, a cup of tea, a visit to her house, the search for Epona, and finally the picnic with Fluttershy. I have a feeling it was to keep me from eyeing her work. I happened to glance at a bit of text saying something about combining minerals. While that's not enough to go on. she practically forced me to keep my nose out of her book, even closing it without a placekeeper."

"And with all of our cooperation, Derpy, Link was able to strike back against Twilight with a plot of his own. She looked to be too enthused by everything going on to really think about the situation clearly." Epona looked over at the mailmare. "Not sure where you fit in to all this though."

"She doesn't. Not technically anyway. I just wanted her to be here. For fun, nothing else." Link admitted and moved a piece. "And I didn't lie when I said I never actually invite Aj. Because I really didn't tell her to come. I told her that Twilight would be coming by to get her herself."

Rarity looked at him puzzled. "But why?"

Link held up a finger and concluded, after a moment of quiet, "You'll see. Just do me another favor and listen to how she talks, what she talks about and to who. It shouldn't take too long before even Rainbow picks up on it."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dash defended. Link laughed and shrugged. "That was a serious question."

"Just that you're not in tune with your romantic side. No harm in that." Link stretched and looked at the door once more. "Now, it's her move."

Twilight got to the farm 30 minutes later. Applebloom had joined Big Mac in the fields while Granny Smith and Applejack were no where to be seen. Inside she thought. With several knocks on the door, Applejack answered. "Applejack! There y-"

"There ya are, Twilight! Been waitin' for ya!" Aj grabbed Twilight's leg and pulled her inside, closing the door quickly. "Granny Smith, Twilight's here, Ah'll be back later!"

"A'right you young'n. Take it easy. An' dontcha ferget t'be back fer dinner. An' if ya ain't gonna make it, better say so now." Granny walked into the room with her hair up and an apron on. "Oh, it's Twilight. How ya doin' kiddo?"

"I'm alright, Granny Smith. As she said, I'm ... here to... How... Did you know I was coming?" Twilight asked Applejack.

"Sure did. Link never told me a time, said you'd be by all on your lonesome to walk me there. An' sure as red on a barn, here ya are. Jus' lemme get a couple things an' we'll be on our way." Aj walked into a hall and past a doorway which shut behind her.

Twilight hadn't noticed Applebloom and Big Mac sneak up behind her. "Hey there, Twilight. Here ta take mah sister to yer brother's special day?"

"I sure am. ... Why? Is that weird?"

"Eenope," Big Mac replied. He was standing at the window just to the side of the door with Applebloom atop his head.

"It's jus' that ya've been spendin' a bit more time at the farm over the last few weeks. An' Ah find that a bit strange." Applebloom pressed her hooves against his head and leaned in. "are ya plannin' somethin'?"

"Nothing, I guarantee it. It's just-"

"Just that she's walkin' with me to the library. Got a party to get to, remember little one?" Applejack returned to Twilight's side with a set of saddlebags. "An' we best be off. Later Granny Smith!"

Said elderly mare walked into the room once more. "You kids have fun, an' don't come home too late or ye'll miss supper."

"Sure thing Granny Smith."

"Actually, Granny, I was hoping to have our friends over the whole night. If that's alright with you..." Twilight asked. "And to make up for this, I can help her in the fields for the next few days."

Granny thought about it. Then gave her answer. "Ya seem to be quite smart, so Ah'll have ta make good use o' yer brains. Ah got an inventory book what needs balancin'. An' Ah can't keep mah darned eyes open long enough to concentrate. Ya'll still be walkin' the fields to be sure."

"Agreed. Aj?" Applejack nodded her head and set out with Twilight. On the way to the library, they stopped for a bite to eat. There, they talked about Link's whole plan, and why he did it. Or at least, the reason he gave her. Right at noon, the pair had walked up to the library and found the whole group on its steps. "So, Link. Aj told me all about your whole 'plan'. I must admit, it was very well put together, given your time constraints."

"Thank you. It's only payback for getting me out of the house. But, I see you're back, with company, right at noon. As I expected."

"So you counted on me going to get her, didn't you?" Link nodded. "To think I was played so easily. I'll have to keep up my mental training too." She looked over to the rest of them. "Alright, everypony. Inside! Link's got presents to open!"

Several cheers came and gone as the party went indoors once more. First, Link opened Pinkie's box. It revealed a cake that didn't quite survive the hour; everypony was able to smell the cake, and had craved it since coming there. "Thank you Pinkie. What's next?" Before him was another box. This time, it was Derpy who put hers forward.

After he took it, he gave it a small shake. "Don't worry. The nothing in there can't break," she offered. He looked at her with a confused expression, then looked at the box.

It's a simple box, and there's holes in the wrapping. Not carefully at all, he tore apart the wrapping and pried open the box to reveal... "An empty box." Link showed everypony, each with a concerned look.

"It is?" Derpy asked, looking inside. "No, there's nothing in it. Just what you asked for right?"

Link thought back to his exact wording. 'I want nothing for my birthday. Best to save your money for when you need it.' "Right. Exactly what I asked for. A box of nothing. How you got it to fit inside anything is a mystery to me. Thanks for nothing, Derpy."

Pinkie started rolling in laughter. As Link grinned her direction, another box made its way in front of him, equal in size to the last. "From me, Link. Take care of it." Twilight lifted the box to him from its place on the table.

As he took it, he felt some weight inside. It's heavy. Link opened the box and found a shiny metal bracelet. "What is this?" he asked, putting it over his left hand. Immediately, the bracelet shrunk just enough to fit his wrist. "Woah."

"That, is a weight-bearing bracelet. Used in conjunction with your own physical strength, it boosts your ability to lift, push, pull, throw, and brace by 4-fold. However, as there is a limit to your strength, so too is there one placed on it to restrict its use. So with that in mind, don't go tossing towers," Twilight advised.

"I won't. Promise. But, I could find a good use for this, I'm sure. Will it stay on my arm forever?"

"No. It can retract its tightness at your request, but only so far. I'd have made it bigger, but I ran out of usable material." Twilight remembered her horrid display a few nights ago when she mangled half the lump of steel trying to reform it. "So unfortunately, your wrist will get too big to fit, and you can't wear it anymore. That's not for at least 7 more years, so I wouldn't worry too much."

"I see. Thank you." Without asking, Epona put a book in front of his face. "Gah!"

"Me next!" Epona cried. Without waiting, she opened it up to reveal blank pages.

"An empty... book." He looked at the cover, then the pages once more. "A journal."

"Uh huh. I want you to write about your life in it. Stuff you wouldn't tell your best friend. That's what a journal does for you." Epona backed off and waited.

Link looked at his bracelet, the book, the empty cake tray, and the box full of nothing. "Thank you all for today."

As the evening waged on, several of the guests said they could stay the night, including Derpy, Rainbow, Aj, and Pinkie. Rarity felt she had more stuff to do and one night with Aj and Rainbow would ruin her flow. Fluttershy had to be home to care for her animals.

Link retreated to his room to start his journal entry for the day.

July 20th.
Journal Entry #001.

I turned 13 today. Several ponies brought me gifts, despite my saying otherwise. One of which is this journal. I don't exactly know what to write at the moment, so I guess introductions are in order. My name is Link. I have a companion fairy. Her name is Navi. She's been with me my whole life.

My mother is the princess, though I am adopted. She's done her best.

I'm a Royal Guard, like my brother, and an accomplished swordsman.

Signing off for now: Link of Equestria

Once complete, he looked to the inside cover and wrote, "If lost or stolen, I’m coming for you." Then wrote "Link's Journal" on the cover after he shut it. He looked at Navi. "You know, I never did talk to Emerald. I'm doing that now." He reached into his pocket, played her song and listened.

"-st fantastic! First I get in trouble for sneaking in, then-"

"Am I interrupting something?" Link asked, making the smile in his voice apparent.

"Gah!" Emmy cried. Then, things were silent for a moment. "Human? Is.. that you?"

"Of course it is. Who else talks in your head? Uh, don't answer that. I've got a question for you if that's-"

"I talk to myself all the time." You kinda caught me at a bad time. I can't go into specifics, but... How familiar are you with caverns?

"I've been in one or two."

"One or two what?" Navi asked. trying to stay in the conversation.

"Caverns," Link replied. "Emerald, what's going on?"

"I'm moving, alright? Hey- watch where you're putting that pointy end!" Ugh, sorry. Mr. Shoving Stick's trying to get me to hurry. I made a scene, and got into some royal trouble. And about the caverns, can you arrange for access inside the mountain?

"This sounds serious. What's in the mountain, and why me?" Link asked her.

Navi landed beside him on his shoulder. "The mountain she went to before?" Link nodded.

There's a mine in the mountain, rich in ore. I wanted to explore its depths, but sadly, it's restricted to military or royalty. And with good reason. I found some explosives in there, like they're mining by blowing up the rock. Now get this: those explosions angered the creatures inside. Now, they've overrun the place! "Hm? Oh, uh. Uh huh. What he said I did, I did that."

"Even with the approval of the princess, it'll take days to assess the situation officially. I'll see what I can do, but don't be disappointed if I come back empty handed." He looked over at Navi and continued, "But I have to ask, and be honest: did you know it was military before you snuck in?"

Of course I did. That's why I had to sneak in.

"That made it harder for me to get approval, but that doesn't matter now. If things are going wrong at a military facility, I have to act before an official report gets submitted. Earliest I can be there is tomorrow. Sound alright?"

"Uh huh. Sounds good. To both of you." A moment of silence. "Never you mind who."

"Great." Link focused for a moment and severed the connection. "Navi, we're going back into the field." He took out a scroll and pencil and wrote a letter quickly. "We're going to the mountain mine."

Downstairs, Pinkie shared with Twilight the last bit of cake. Seemed Aj, Epona, and Rainbow had plenty. The latter pony turned her head to the stairs, hearing Link's footfalls. "Hey birthday boy. You're still up?" Dash questioned. She waited, then saw his expression was somewhat serious. "What, should I start calling you 'Birthday Man' now?"

"Dash, he's being serious. Something's up," Twilight enlightened. "What happened?"

"It's ..." I can't tell Dash about Emmy quite yet. She'll get so worried, and there'll be nothing stopping her from invading the mines on her own. "It's about the stone I got from the tundra. Remember when I said it's one of three?" There we go. Emerald, I believe, also has one, so it'l-

"Yeah. What of it? Did you find another?" Twilight asked him. "Or maybe you heard where one could be. Either way, you could be going back into the field."

She's... She's actually giving me an explanation I can agree with. "That is correct. Apparently, there's a mine to the north. But I'll spare you the details until I get back. Spike? Spiiiike?!" Around the corner came the little dragon. "There you are. Do me a favor and send this to the princess." Link handed Spike the letter he wrote before coming downstairs.

"You got it." Spike blew it away and watched it float. "What was it?"

"A request. See, I'm leaving tomorrow, but this place isn't connected to a railroad, so I need to fly to get there. But to even get in to the mine, I need royal approval. So I'll be stopping at the castle to receive said parchment." Link looked at Epona. "You know, since it's up north, and so is your old home... How about I let you tag along? To the castle I mean. Just to arrange for transport to your old home to get your things."

"You'd do that? For me?"

"I said I would try to help you, and this is what it looks like. Unless you're afraid of heights." Link watched as she sat beside him. Easily, she met his own height.

"Not at all. The sudden stop at the bottom would only hurt for a split second anyway, but I won't fall out of a royal chariot." Link was quiet at her admittance. "I joke. I know how to not fall."

"I hope so." Dash looked at him. "What?"

"You ... are you hiding something? You seem a little eager to leave." Dash questioned. She watched his gaze go from Epona to herself. "Any particular reason why?"

Link was, again, quiet. She'll believe me if I give her a reason. Any reason but Emmy. "Actually I am hiding something. And I am eager to leave. The mines in question have been overrun by strange creatures. Like the last time I got a stone, I had to fight strange beings to get it. If it's going to be the same here, I'll need to be somewhat prepared." He turned to Twilight. "The metal for this bracelet. Where did you get it?"

"Rarity sent a letter to her contact ... in the mountain. Oh no." Link nodded. "Oh no no no. That metal was mined from the tunnels that- oh yeah, this is bad."

"I'm lost. What?" Dash admitted.

Twilight turned to her and explained, "You know that gift I gave him? The metal I used came from the mines he's going to. The metal I got came from Rarity's contact. The one behind military protection. If things are as bad as he claims, and I suspect they are, then all of Equestria could be deprived of its resources!" Spike belched up a letter and Link took it immediately.

"'My Loyal Knight Link. The Mines of Copper's Bell is indeed a restricted access location. Interestingly enough, I was discussing it with my sister, and she agreed to send you out. A service will be there in the morning to carry you to the castle. From there, you will take another to your location. There is much and more I would tell you now, but face to face is easier. Princess Celestia.' Alright then." Link coiled the scroll. "Epona, I'm only going to ask this once. What ever your answer is the one I'm going to stand by." He turned to her and asked, "How do you feel, having attached yourself to me?"

"What kind of-" Twilight began, but was met with a hoof.

"You ask if I'm alright getting involved with you, is that right?" Link nodded. "I'm perfectly happy. You've called me here. Me. A nopony from nowhere. Thousands of others, and you call... me. I have to believe there's a reason. Until I find out what that reason is, I will attach myself to you as best as I can."

Twilight smiled and added, "And you're alright with what he does?" Epona nodded. "Alright." She turned to him and concluded, "If only she was like you, I'd say she was a keeper."

"Wha-!" Link started, but cut himself off. "Epona, get some sleep, we have an early start tomorrow." Quickly, he turned and ran up the stairs, Navi following close behind.

Applejack came out of the kitchen and announced, "Alright everypony. Pie's done, come an' get it~"

"Tomorrow, we leave for another mission. I have to be ready this time." He lay in his bed in thought. The mines... Emerald... The second stone. Which is it? Hers or theirs? And how will I convince them to part with it? It was only sheer luck that Prism parted with hers so easily. Still don't know what she was going on about. Hmm. Ruby helped me last time. Her own fire might actually be a hindrance here. Maybe I can get Emerald to join me, having been in there before. With the royal pardon of course. "Good night, Navi."

She had already fallen asleep in his hat on the desk.

Note that this is in a single day. The page breaks used are only for an elapse of short time, unlike last chapter.
~~~~~~~~~
"Gettin' snippy there, ain'tcha Epona?" She didn't like Emerald's advances, and while Rarity means it friendly, Epona doesn't really know the mane 6 outside of Aj and Twilight.
~~~~~~~~~
Please note:
"Link voice"
Link thoughts
"Emmy's voice."
Emmy's thoughts