As with many times prior, Link woke up before the sun could spread its rays into the library. With a solitary stretch came a light grumble. On his feet, he looked at the sleeping Emmy, then shifted his look to Navi.

She sat up and yawned. "Morning," she greeted. Link nodded as she flew up to his shoulder, allowing the Hylian to retrieve his hat.

Link quietly walked to the hole in the wall where the door once stood, and gazed out into town. He looked to the side at the board meant to replace it he bought and brought back with him the day before. With a sigh, he walked over and picked it up, letting it lean against him to start, when he heard a quiet voice ask, "Where are you going this early in the morning?"

Emmy stood in the empty doorway and rubbed her eyes. "Did I wake you?" Link asked, as he turned to face her. To which, Emmy shook her head. "I'm going to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack has a tool shed, and I need to borrow a few of them. I was gonna take the board with me. Today, I'm gonna make a replacement door."

"Heh," she responded, stumbling forward in her sleepiness. "I'll be here when you get back. Unless Rainbow decides to visit. Again."

Link carried the board up on one arm, kept it stable with his off hand, and ventured out toward the farm.

At Sweet Apple Acres, Aj had just come out of the house when she was greeted by Link waving his arm, and Navi. "Mornin' Aj," he said.

"Mornin' yerself. What brings ya here before the light o' day?" Aj walked to him. "What's with that plank there?"

"Well, I sorta need to borrow some tools. And I know that you have the most in Ponyville."

"Ya came an awful long way fer some tools. What is it ye'r makin' anyway?" She turned and started walking toward her shed.

Link followed at her side. "A door. Twilight's library got a surprise renovation." Aj's ears twitched when he said her name. "I won't need many."

When the three got to the shed, Aj opened the doors wide and showed off her quantity. "Whatcha need?"

"Hmm..." Link walked in and looked around. "Won't need much. Let's see here..." He picked up a few things, shifted other stuff around, then got a good idea of what he needed. "Definitely a chalk-line. Woodwork pencil, screwdriver, maybe a hoof sander, a small saw... And.. Hmm... Oh, and a few screws if you have them."

In minutes, Aj gathered everything he asked for, minus the chalk-line. "Sorry, Link. Don't got a line. Not a workin' one, anyway."

"That's fine. I can make-do." Link took the tools in a bag she prepared, picked up his board, and bowed his way out of the shed. "Swing by later, and admire my work? Never done something like this before, so I hope it turns out alright."

"Ah'll see what Ah can do."

Back at the library, Link had just approached the front door. That's right. The front door. Link opened it, after setting his board and tools aside. Twilight noticed him immediately, having glanced up from her book. "Welcome back, Link. How was your walk?"

"Why's there a door here?" he asked. "No really, why's there a door here?"

Twilight chuckled and looked at the new door. "I made it. One of the many spells in my arsenal. Why?"

Link stepped aside and gestured to the discarded board and tools. "What, you thought I was kidding? I said I was getting a chunk of wood, didn't I? I even got a bit of Aj's many tools!" Twilight's ears twitched when he said her name. "You know, it's funny. Aj's ears did the same twitchy thing."

She cleared her throat, closed her book and walked over to him. "That-"

"Now, I have to find a new use for all of it. Any ideas?"

"Hmm... Hard to say, but you'll have a long time to think about it. Derpy came by while you were gone. She apparently needs your help for something."

"Did she say what for?" She shook her head. "I guess I'll swing by the post office before it opens."

"What about breakfast? Did you eat anything?" Then, Link shook his head. "Well, try and fill your belly before your long day, alright?"

Link waved dismissively, then closed the door behind him as he left.

Navi sat on his shoulder outside the post office. Link munched into an apple he got from the market. "What do you think she wanted?"

Link swallowed, then replied, "Well... I don't know. Twilight never said anything about what she needed from me."

"Huh... I guess you're right... " Navi shrugged. "Might be worth actually thinking about what you wanna do with that piece of wood."

"More worried about right now, honestly. Hm?" He noticed Derpy coming in hot. Quickly, Link sprung to his feet, while Derpy stopped just short of running into him. Her hat flew off and got him in the face.

Derpy slowly retrieved her hat. "Uhh... Sorry." After she righted her hat, she greeted, "Good morning, Link. Glad to see you made it."

"Well, Twilight told me that you told her that you were looking for me. So here I am. Whatcha need?" Link straightened and smiled a little.

"I need your help ... Inside." She led the way into the building, and to her own cubby. Several scrolls and packages filled the space, almost spilling out. She bit down on an orange wrapped box near the top. Link took it from her. "I've held onto it for a few days now."

Link looked at it, then at the name. "Goes to the one called, 'Ruby Inferno'. Why not just deliver it to the address listed?"

"You don't think I tried? The house just... doesn't exist... Vacant lot, I'm afraid..." She shook her head.

"Then it's lucky for you I know where she lives. For real." Derpy hugged him quickly, then let go just as hastily.

"Oh thank you thank you! This means a lot to me." She noticed the scrolls finally fall from the cubby. "Well, I leave you to it. Got plenty of stuff to deliver for myself."

Link pocketed the package and smiled wider, if only just a little. "Then I'll leave you to it." He waved and set out.

In the vast, deep forest of Equestria, the Castle of the Two Sisters remained occupied by the one Link sought: Ruby Inferno. He had taken the familiar route, with a few cut corners. Occasionally, he'd glanced over his shoulder; a sneaking suspicion he was being followed loomed in the air. Once he and Navi arrived at the castle, Link walked inside, and Ruby, just about to leave.

"Well, here you are, I guess..." Ruby said. "What brings you here? Unannounced..." Her unamused expression revealed she was... well, unamused.

"Your fake address is a vacant lot, you do realize..." Her eyes brightened and stepped closer. "There came a package for you, but Derpy couldn't deliver. The house isn't there anymore." Link retrieved the orange package and handed it to her. "So, she brought it back to the post office, then asked me to deliver it in her place."

Ruby set her full saddlebags aside and took the package. "Wow, I'm kinda surprised I actually got one." Link's confused expression prompted an explanation. "Alright. So when we were up in the north town, I went around and put up some poster scrolls advertising my restoration skills. This..." Ruby tore off the top and slid out a rather thick tome. "is one book that... really needs fixing. Like, holy moly." She swiftly flipped through the pages. "Well, guess I'll get started."

"What about that?" Navi asked, pointing to her discarded bags. "Looked like you were going somewhere."

"Hm?" Ruby blinked a couple times. "Oh! Right! Zecora wanted me to bring some mushrooms from this side of the forest to her hut."

Link put out his hand. "I'm in the area already. Why don't I deliver them for you? Looks like you'll be busy doing other stuff for the time being."

"You're suuuuure you can handle this?"

"Oh please. I've done way scarier stuff than this. Besides, I can handle myself, no matter the situation. Call me... an army of one." Link boasted and picked up her bags, knowing the response.

"Alright fine. If you insist. I'll swing by her place tomorrow and get my bags, so don't worry about it." Link nodded, pocketed the bags, and waved goodbye.

The path to Zecora's hut was different from the castle than it was from town. All the same, it was beaten down, and moved aside; it was a clear sign that Ruby had walked this path many a time before.

"So... What's with the mushrooms?" Navi asked.

Link had taken one out and held it flat in his hand. "Unremarkable, so far as I can see. Looks common, too. Maybe she's actually going to cook these ones, and not use them as reagents."

"That's logical, I guess. But Ruby said, 'this side'. Meaning they're not common in Zecora's half of the woods. How'd she bring herself to get all these mushrooms if it's just to eat them?" The hut came into sight. "I guess we'll just have to ask her ourselves."

He stowed the spore and knocked on the door. Clanging sounds, and surprised yelping came from within. Hastily, Link swung open wide the door and dashed in. Zecora was huddled against the wall, a look of fear in her eyes. "Link! Help! There's a spider in my hut! I'd deal with it my self but..." She tried to get closer to the wall.

Link looked at the itsy bitsy spider and grinned. "This?" He pointed. "This little thing?" Link walked over, put his hands to each of its sides, and lit the arachnid ablaze. "Easy work. Hm?" A shiny golden carapace hit the floor. He carefully picked it up, examined it, then put it in his pocket.

Zecora stood stunned, with her back to the wall. "You've set that arachnid quite ablaze. But the resulting mark will last for several days." She walked over to it and looked close at it, causing Link to step back. "A new brew I must create. Though some time it will take to equate." Zecora looked up at him and smiled. "Heed my words, that mark won't last overlong; all of my creations are indeed strong."

"Speaking of which... Ruby sent me here to deliver to you some mushrooms." Link pulled out two full bags of mushrooms and set them on her table. "Ruby said she'd come by tomorrow to get the bags, so no worries there."

"Indeed I do, Link. Not that many, I don't think... About half of that would do." He turned and started for the door. "Since you're here..." Link stopped and turned slowly. "I've a favor to ask of you." Zecora walked to a dresser drawer, pulled out a bag of something, and a scroll. Link followed and took them from her. "There is a mare in town to whom I owe a debt. With this payment and parchment, she and I will be set."

Hesitantly, Link pocketed the items. "You know, this isn't really what I wanted to do today, but... Since I'm already here, I might as well. Do you need the bag back?" Zecora shook her head. "Alright then. I'm off."

Link waved goodbye and exited the hut, beginning his march toward town, and the light of day he missed.

"That was fun, huh?" Navi asked as Link entered the market place. He had taken out the scroll, trying to discern who Zecora meant by 'mare'. There were plenty of mares in Ponyville, and Link wasn't about to waste time asking them all individually. "Seems like everypony we run into has something for us to do."

"Yeah, but I'm supposed to be at home relaxing. This is my time off, remember?"

"Even so... You tried taking time off. Remember how that turned out?"

Memories of a dragon, a mountain, and a frightening Fluttershy flooded his mind. "Yeah, I do remember. What's the point?"

"My point is..." Navi flew in front of him and pointed at his nose, stopping him in his tracks. "You can't sit still doing nothing. You always need to be moving, helping, doing something. You? Relax? Heh, when you're old and decrepit." She returned to his shoulder as Link continued walking, looking for a particular booth.

Soon, he found it. Occupied by a single mare he knew as Roseluck. She and her friends run the flower stand, but the other two aren't anywhere in sight. Perhaps they were in the building behind them.

"Hey Link. Good morning," Rose greeted with a cheerful smile. Link raised his hand to say good morning. "What brings you to our humble little flower booth? A fresh bouquet for the library centerpiece? Or maybe just a carnation for your shirt pocket?"

"Neither, actually." Link handed the scroll to Rose, then dug in his pocket for the pouch, which he also forfeited. "Zecora asked me to give these to you. Something about owing you a debt."

One mare burst out of the door behind Rose, and trotted around the flower cart, only stopping to wave and smile. Another mare stood in the doorway. "Please excuse Lily. She's a frantic mess when it comes to rush orders like this."

"Rush ... Order?" Link asked, too late to realize what he'd done.

"Rush order. Somepony came in yesterday around closing and ordered a special bouquet," Rose explained. "Octavia Melody. One of the musicians of Ponyville. She stopped in last minute last night and ordered a bouquet. And as per our 'Next Day Local Delivery' policy it's gotta go out today. But, since we have a project, courtesy of our mutual zebra friend..."

Lily stopped with a wrapped box with Octavia's name on a tag. "It's done!" she chirped. Rose quickly traded the box for the scroll and bag, then hoofed the box to Link. "Wha- huh?"

"Don't worry about it. Link'll take care of it, right? Octavia lives on the south edge of town, in what looks like a divided house." Link took the box with a sigh. "Though... you don't have to if you don't want to... But it would help us busy mares oh so much if you would..."

All three of the mares stopped and gave him helpless looks. Link hesitated, then hung his head. "Alright, alright. I'll deliver this for you three."

"Oh, thank you ever so much~" they said in unison. Link nodded a few times then headed south.

"You really can't say 'no' to anypony, can you?"

"You try leaving helpless eyed mares to their own, when you're fully able to help them out. I'm sure you'll find it's not so easy."

"Yeah, yeah. You love helping and everypony knows it." Navi smirked and sat on his shoulder, looking at the cloudy sky. "Say... You've been real busy all day so far. When are you gonna call it and get some lunch?"

"Maybe when I get back to the library. Hopefully Twilight has some prepared." Link scratched his head a little. "You really think the library could use a bouquet?"

"I'm sure Twilight would appreciate that very much." Navi agreed and looked ahead as a clearly divided house came into view. "That's gotta be it."

Link and Navi approached the door to the odd-looking house, just beyond the musical note hedge to the side. The former knocked on the door a few times.

A dark gray mare answered it, began her greeting with a smile, then quickly slammed the door. "G-go away!"

Slowly, Link looked at Navi, who returned the wary look. "Octavia Melody? The flower mares sent me here to deliver a special order you placed last night?"

Just as slowly, the door opened as a dark grey mare stepped out a little. "I did. Wh-what of it?" She watched as Link took out the box. "And this is it, then?"

Link set it on her doorstep and backed up a few. "It is. I'm delivering it on behalf of Roseluck and her friends."

Octavia watched him retreat, and stepped forward to the package. As she opened it up all the way, she saw he was being truthful. "I'm very sorry. Thank you, umm..."

"Link. I don't blame you for not knowing that. I'm fairly new to town."

"I see..." She moved the box inside and returned. "Do you have proper living arrangements at least? I'd hate to see some... well, someone like you without a place to rest your head at night."

"I actually live with my sister in the public library. It's suitable, for now I suppose." Link smiled and turned.

"The library you say? Hold a moment, would you?" The mare disappeared inside and returned with a rather thick book. "This one here is just a few days overdue. There's no policy on it, I don't think, but still. Do you think you can return it in my stead?"

Just as he had done several times that day, Link accepted the request. "I'd be happy to. Since I'm headed there anyway."

"You have my thanks, Link."

Link left the mare and started back into town. Navi smiled and nudged him. "So... Have you put thought into what you want to do with that chunk of wood?"

"You know? I think I have. Finally."

The pair of them arrived at the library just after noon. Link opened the door and held the book up. "Hey Twilight. Octavia returns her music book."

Twilight looked up from her own book, then closed it, opened another and walked over to him. She examined the tome, then recorded its return before putting it on the shelf. "Tell me: how did a request from Derpy end in you returning a book for Octavia?"

"I'll tell you later. Anyway, what did you do with Aj's tools?" he asked quickly. "I finally know what I wanna do with that piece of wood." She gave him the tools in question and watched him head for the door. "Swing by town in a while and see my creation?"

A few hours later, Twilight took Spike and walked with Epona into town, where already several dozen ponies gathered around a bulletin board. Curious, she and Epona pushed their way to the front of the herd. "What's all this?" On the board stuck a single page. "'Army of One now accepting new missions from the denizens of Ponyville!' No requirements?"

A stallion to her side added, "Just saw it today. Someone was diggin' a mighty hole here earlier."

Then a mare added her knowledge. "I saw a being set a section of fence with big posts into the ground like it was easy or something." On close inspection, the mare was a pegasus.

"That sounds like Link, but..." She looked around and saw him hiding behind a pillar beside Town Hall. "Really?" Twilight turned back to the page and continued reading, "'Post your requests here. Cost will be determined by the job, its difficulty, and how much fun I have in completing it.' Doesn't say who it is, though."

"That's good enough for me." A unicorn mare walked up to the board, and without magic, pinned a piece of paper to the board. "We all start somewhere, right?" Cheerfully, she looked around. "Well, we do, don't we? Tell me when you started something, and was an instant hit, huh?" With that, she parted the crowd and walked away, only stopping to add, "I thought so." The mare left the crowd.

Soon after, the whole crowd started to dissipate. Save for Twilight. Link approached the board and looked at the new addition. "'Manual Labor requested at Meadow Dale's house.' Alright. I mean, you made these to hold how much?" Link pointed at his wristbands. "4 times my current amount?"

"Don't push it. You try and lift something you can't, even with those, and those flimsy things could break and become useless." Twilight cautioned. "So this is your idea, huh? Leaving your actual mission to accept smaller ones from the townsfolk, and charge money for doing their work?"

"I mean, it makes sense, right? I do work, I get paid?" Link took down the page. "I'll find out what it is when I get there. See you when I get back, Twilight. Oh hey. Expect me in a few hours. Think you could get some lunch together?"

"Heehee. Sure. I'll see what I can do."

Link turned and walked away. Then he stopped and recalled, "You know... Aj said the exact same thing earlier today." Then he walked on toward Meadow Dale's home.

Twilight glanced over at him. Why does he keep telling me things that involve Applejack?

"I thought it might have been you," Meadow greeted at her door. "But I couldn't be sure."

Link stood at the doorway with Navi atop his shoulder. He glanced at the lawn covered in rocks on his way up. "If I were to guess: I'd say you want these moved."

"You're a sharp blade of grass, Link." Meadow looked out at her lawn. "There's a reinforced cart I keep in the shed out back. You are free to use it as you need it. There's somepony from the local Rock Farm coming tomorrow to collect. I swear, it's like these rocks grow from nothing." She shook her head. Then, she watched in silence as Link walked to one of the stones. Easily, he picked it up out of the ground. "Alright, so you're a tough guy."

"You don't know that half of it, Meadow." He let the rock crash to the ground. "Your cart's in the shed, yes?"

Quietly, Meadow nodded. She watched him continue his work. When he finished, he refused payment on grounds that it was minor, easy, and fun. As well as his first task. Meadow thanked him for his work and bid him farewell with a smile.

Link returned to the library and enjoyed a meal with his family.

That's one down!