The following morning, Link woke up early. Not as early as he'd gotten used to, but early enough to see Emerald asleep in the next bed over. Quietly, he got up and saw Navi in his hat. She was already awake, and flew up, dimming her light as he put his hat on.

"Morning, Link," she greeted. Navi yawned, standing on his shoulder. "Emerald's still asleep..." Link nodded his head, put his boots on, made sure his pockets were secured to his belt, and headed to the door.

He opened it without letting it creak too much, and closed it behind him. "First thing I need to do is check on my shield."

"Would it really only take one night?"

"I don't know the process." Link walked toward the stairs. "Might be weeks, months, or even years. Or it could have taken a single hour. I really don't know. Which is why I said check on, not pick up."

"That makes sense..." Navi admitted. She looked at the walls, decorated with paint and etched into with other materials. "I like the art they've got."

"They're a civilization. They have their beliefs, few of which likely mingle with our own." The two of them reached the second layer of the city. "Uhh... This way, right?" Navi nodded, and turned with him. She flew out and got another look at her surroundings. "Don't go out too far."

Turning, she replied, "I'm alright. There's no wind in here to keep me from being stable." All the same, she listened to him, and returned to flying within his reach. "I really hope it doesn't take any longer than a week... I don't think we can afford that much time."

Then, Link nodded. "I agree with you on that one. Princess Celestia seems really eager for me to get that blade, and complete the overall objective."

"Which was..."

Link stopped and thought back trying to remember what the conversation was. "It was... I think Princess Celestia called it a lens... Like... Glasses lens? Magnifying lens? Telescopic lens? She also said there were 5 of them. And one of them's been 'unearthed after 12 centuries'. I don't remember much else from that discussion." He continued walking.

"Admittedly, neither do I." The pair reached the door to the smith they talked to the night before, where they heard mumbling, and some striking metal. "Is... is he alright?"

"Might just be forming. Who knows? Not I." He knocked. "Hello? Mr. Hammer?"

Silence, then... "Good, it works," Titanium Hammer triumphed inside. Link looked at Navi, who shrugged. "Aye, aye... Ah'ma comin'." Slowly, the door creaked open. "Who be rappin' at me door so- Ah, boy. Ye're a mite early."

"But, still good, right?" he asked.

"Aye. The shield's just about done. Just finished testin' her out against me swingin' leg." Link looked confused. "Best if Ah show ye." Hammer walked back inside his barely lit room.

The shield, raised and curved slightly, lay over a metal stand, to fit its shape. With the front facing upward, Link could see the detail the pony had put into it. Specifically, the design Link had drawn up the night before. He saw it was clamped down at four points. "What were you doing, exactly?"

"Hittin' her as hard as Ah could." Hammer grinned. "Lemme show ye why." He walked to his worktable and eyeballed a drawing. A drawing of his shield.

In the diagram, there were diamond-shaped images scattered about its surface, with too many lines between them to count. Underneath, it wrote, "Absurdly Sturdy Shield". Link looked at the shield closer, and saw the original lines he'd drawn.

"You erased my lines, to make your own? I ... That does make sense, don't get me wrong... But why?"

"Ah cannot draw worth the price of water in Canterlot."

"You must really be terrible if that's the case, 'cause water's free. And if that's the case, then how'd you get the lines and other shapes on it?" Link asked.

"Ah have a brother. A ton less skilled than meself, but at least he can hold a quill." Hammer laughed. "So, ye like it?"

Link looked at the name. "I'll need to rename it, but... The idea behind this shield is, what exactly?"

Hammer sighed, and reiterated himself. "The shield here's s'posed ta get stronger every time she's met with a stronger force. Say, ye're shield breaks..."

"Kinda why I'm here..."

"Well, with this shield, her defensive strength will skyrocket to match that what would otherwise best her, an' then some."

"Essentially, unbreakable." Hammer nodded with another grin. "Then... answer me this: Why'd you make it so..." He moved his hands apart, to measure its width.

"So... so what, so big?" Link nodded. "All Ah had ta go on was yer drawin'. Ye didn't give the bleedin' thing a scale! Ah had ta guess, an' looks like Ah made it too big fer ye! Ah can keep it if ye won't take it."

Hurriedly, Link shook his head. "No no, I'll take it... Won't be able to use it normally, but I'll figure something out..." A shield strong enough to be unbreakable. "Can it block magic?"

Hammer didn't answer right away. Merely, he looked back toward the page, then around the room. "Uhh... That's a hard one... See, the shield - bein' made o' what it is - has some magic-blockin' ability. She can take a ball o' energy just fine, unless it's stronger than... well, let's say it can't really take a long-term magic beating."

"I see... So mostly physical." He picked up the shield and turned it over. "Good, it's for my right arm."

"Like yer drawin'."

The strap was adjustable, and the handle rounded, enough for his fingers to fit through and then some. "I'll be big enough for this shield in time." He put it on his back successfully, and withdrew the stone tablet. "Thank you."

"No need ta thank me, boy. That bracelet ye got 'round yer limb there. Ah's the one what made the metal fer it."

"Then... You're Rarity's contact?" Link inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Aye. One of many, Ah'm sure. Ah've a gemsmithin' tool Ah use ta fashion many things. She'd prolly be better 'n me tellin' ye the story." Hammer dropped his grin and added, "Now, don't ye dare lose that shield! She's a one o' a kind masterpiece."

Link bowed, turned, and left the smith to his business. "So..." Navi started, "Shield's done. Downside... It's too big. You might be able to hide under it... And from past experiences, you'll be going against things bigger than you all the time."

"You can say that again..." He shifted the shield on his back. "It's heavier than I thought. That material he used... What did he call it?"

"He didn't..." Navi shook her head. "Not that it matters. If it does as advertised, you'll never need another shield ever again."

"I wouldn't say that. It can't deal with magic all that well. Remind me when we get back to Ponyville. I need to paint it."

"Sure." Link and Navi exited the smith's work area.

Link put a hand to his chin. I still need to thank that shopmare..." He walked down the levels to the shop and saw the door wide open. So, he let himself in. "Hello?"

A sharp metal slash was heard behind the wall behind the counter. The shop mare poked her head out and saw him. "Well, if it ain't the little excavator! How'd the rope treat ye?"

"Far better than I expected. And for that, you have my deepest thanks." He withdrew the rope. "What's it made of to survive a bomb blast?"

"Hmm..." She scratched her chin. "Gimme a sec, yeah?" Quickly, she disappeared behind the wall and made a lot of noise before falling out into view. At the counter, she looked at the rope he had. "Now let's see." She held it in her hooves for examining. "Ah, yes. I know. This one here was made from fusing the flexibility of rope with the strength of steel. Might not look like much, but it certainly gets the job done."

"Why would you make rope fused with metal?" Navi asked.

"Got bits?" she asked, nudging the jar on the counter. "I'm only jokin'! It's cause o' you that I can start sellin' our crop to travelers who need them." She pointed to the side at several bags of orbs. "See, soon after the boss got back, he sent a troop into the mine and got them workin' immediately. Some of our swordly types headed down too. Keep 'em safe from those bomb things. An' we got a whole slew o' stock."

Link nodded with a smile. "Good. In killing that behemoth of a creature, I used the last of the bag I found in the mine. Looking to restock." He watched the mare come out from behind the counter and over to the pile of bombs.

"These ones here are modified even further than those you found in the mine. Those ones blew up after what, 6 or 7 seconds?" He nodded. "These ones here go boom in five, making them more valuable in a combat situation. Plus, none o' that waitin' for the fireworks."

"5, huh? Well, that's better. I'll take a bag of twenty. Well, just the bombs. Still have the bag from before." She agreed and filled up his bag with the twenty he asked for, and watched as he put it and the rope away. "What did you use to cut the rope if it's made of metal?"

"Bolt cutters," she replied plainly. "Can't use normal cutters as it's metal based."

Link nodded in understanding and paid the mare what he owed. With a restocked bag of bombs, he set off for his room. When he arrived, he opened the door slowly, as Navi flew inside to look around. Emmy's bed was empty. "Emerald?" she asked.

The mare in question came in from another room to the side. With a yawn, she greeted, "Good morning~"

"I didn't expect you to be awake yet..." Link closed the door behind him. "Couldn't sleep?"

Emmy shook her head. "It's not that. I woke up when you left. I, as well as other pegasi, can feel when something enters and leaves our space. If it's got magic, anyway. Longer story shorter, you woke me up."

"Heh, sorry." He turned and pointed to his shield. "Brand new shield! Just got it."

"Hey, alright! ... It's a bit big." He turned and faced her. "What? It is..."

Link sighed and hung his head. "Yeah, we established as much... But I'll make it work. Anyway. You ready to go up the mountain?" Emmy nodded. "Good. Let's go then." He removed his shield, strapped on his sword, put the shield back on, and walked out the door.

Twenty minutes of walking later, they arrived at the sign pointing them back to the mining city. As it pointed them right before, it directed them left, to the mountain path. Which was surprisingly well-kept. The path before them was littered with rocks ranging from pebble to bigger than himself. A few minutes later, the three came to a vertical section, covered in ivy. Link tested it, then began his climb. On the way up, he passed by three sections of rock, likely meant for climbers to take a rest, but he did not stop. The edge drew within reach, and he pulled himself over. Before him, was a sign pointing right. He got closer, and read it.

"'Mountain Crater'. Huh. Below it, it says, 'Danger: Extremely Hot!!'" Navi shook her head. "I agree. Way too dangerous for us in there... wait..."

"Wait what?" Emmy asked, looking around. "What's up?"

Closely Link looked at the sign, then the entrance to the right. "Something's not right here..."

"I swear to Celestia, if you mean its placement I'm going to go home," Emmy warned.

Link chuckled. "Well, kinda..." He turned and looked at her. "More specifically, placement at all." Emerald's confused expression prompted an explanation. "If there's only one way to go, you wouldn't think to put a sign saying so, would you?"

"I guess not... But with how they have signs everywhere, can you blame them?" Link walked to the left part of the wall and looked at it. "You better not be losing it."

"I'm not." Link placed a hand on the wall and knocked. Solid. He walked further to the left and knocked again. Still solid. Further left, another knock. Strangely higher tone. "Right here." Link knocked until he heard another solid thunk. "There's an opening back there."

"Then... Then what? That's it?"

"No. I'm going to blow a hole in the wall." Emmy nodded and retreated. With a need for only one, Link placed a bomb at the wall and ran back toward the edge. A last second decision made him go to one side, so he had a ridge of rock behind him, to keep him from flying off. The resulting explosion created the hole Link predicted. "Found it."

"Hey, nice find." The three of them went inside and looked around. "I thought you used all your bombs on that king or whatever.

"I stopped at the shop and restocked." Inside, it was very lit. Pillars lined the walls, white tiles covered the floor, and a pool of water existed at the room's far end. Two torches were lit, one at either side of the pool's front. Which, itself, rested in raised flooring. It forced Link to go up a step, in order to actually go in the water. The only thing that stopped him, was a shining set of triangles on that same step.

"That's the same symbol as here..." Link said, looking at the back of his left hand. "And here..." He pulled out his ocarina and looked near the mouthpiece, finding another of the Triforce marks. "Which leads me to believe, I need to play a song here..."

"Don't suppose you know which one?" Emmy asked. Link shook his head before actually thinking.

"Link," Navi interrupted, "the Triforce was used as the Royal Family's mark."

"Right..." Link nodded. "Then... This one." He raised the ocarina to his lips and played Celestia's Lullaby. Out of practice none, he played the notes to near perfection.

Sounds of laughter rose from the water. A large figure breached the surface and rested, floating a few feet over it. Much larger in size to Link himself, but the shape was very similar, covered in ivy as it was. "Welcome Link. I am the Great Fairy of Power."

Link backed up a little at the sight of a figure that looked like him; arms, legs, hands and feet. "How do you know my name?"

"Dear boy. You are chosen by the Goddesses. It is my duty to know your name," she answered. "You may not have come seeking anything, but I will bestow upon you a gift of Power."

"If that is what you offer me, I won't refuse it," he replied, with respect in his tone.

"Then, receive it now." The Great Fairy opened her arms and released a red magic toward him. It swirled around him, then went into his limbs, and body. Link felt his own magic glow as she granted him... something.

"What... was that?" he asked in shock. Link felt a wave of knowledge invade his mind, as he somehow knew how to use a skill he's never had.

"That, dear boy, is a gift. With it, you can focus your magic into your sword, and expel it as a wave. Use it when you're surrounded with opposition. It may just save your life."

He felt awake, and full of energy. Link had no more fatigue from the climb up here, nor lasting fatigue from the mines they traversed the last couple days. All of his injury and pain of body simply... vanished. His right arm, the one that suffered a few hits from the main sentry, felt no pain at all.

"What do I get?" Emmy asked eagerly.

The Great Fairy looked at the green pegasus and smiled. "Who are you?"

"Emerald Storm, ma'am."

"Emerald... You are unique, yet... your name is unknown to me. Perhaps... Come here for a moment." Emerald flew up to her and waited. The Great Fairy placed a hand on Emerald's forehead, examining her magic. "Teleportation? Unusual in a pegasus... Forgive me, for there is nothing I can grant you." Emmy hung her head. "Worry not, young one. There are many things you can do as you are, that very many can not."

"I understand... Thanks anyway." She landed back beside Link.

Link opened his mouth, as if to speak, but Navi interrupted his thought. "Excuse me, Great Fairy?"

The Great Fairy was silent, before asking, "And you are?"

"Navi the Fairy," the little one replied.

"I expected not to see another fairy. You must have come with him, from his world." Navi nodded. "You travel as this boy's companion?" Another nod. "Then, allow me to give you some advice: Seek out my friend. She lives near Canterlot Castle. Surely she, too, will grant you a gift."

"Great Fairy," Link started, "I grew up in Canterlot, under the care of Princess Celestia. If there were another being like you, there, I believe I'd have known."

"Perhaps it is for that very reason that you do not know. If it would please you, I suggest looking harder."

Link nodded. "I fully intend to."

Emmy stretched. "It was great to meet you, Ms. Fairy."

"When battle has made you weary, please come back to see me," the Great Fairy requested.

And hike up the mountain for it? Link thought. I don't think so.

Emmy bowed and turned to leave. Link followed soon after, with Navi on his shoulder looking back. She saw the Great Fairy disappear into the pool of water. "That water was too shallow to house such a large being unnoticed."

"Magic," was all Link's response. Outside of the spring, Link looked out over the edge, at the village near the base. "I can see the village from here," he stated.

"I should hope so," a strange voice replied. Link jumped at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. "Oh, sorry, boy. I did not mean to startle you." A large owl sat on the sign just outside the spring. Much larger than any he'd known to exist previously.

"You are a talking owl..." Emmy pointed out.

"Well spotted, miss. My name, shortened, is Kaepora. I'm a traveler of sorts, and have been almost everywhere in this great land. On that note, it seems we may be headed in the same direction: the village down there. If it would be alright with you, I may carry you."

Link sighed, then looked down. "It certainly would be helpful."

"Then, hold out your arms. I won't hurt." Link did as he's told, and faced the village. Kaepora got off the sign he sat on, picked him up, and carried him down the mountain, careful not to let him fall. He soared through air, quietly flapping his wings when he needed to. Emerald flew after the two, carrying Navi in her thicker mane. She noticed Link smiling. Was he having... fun? She'd only known him to be serious. At the village, Kaepora decided to set him down on one of the red-tiled roofs.

Careful not to fall, Link walked to the edge of the roof and looked around the village. "I admit, that, was fun." Link looked up and saw the owl flying away into the distance. "And there he goes..."

Emmy landed beside him. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. And, now that we're back here... I can show you the rest of the village! One piece at a time. Where do you wanna start?"

Link focused on the gate he passed on his way up the mountain. Why'd he drop us here? he thought.

The Great Fairy of Power...
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Coming up next: a tour of Kakariko Mura!
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