Drops of sewage fell from the pipes and condensation formed on the walls, causing an excessive amount of mold growth.

They were back in the Clock Tower.

A smile made it's way onto the Happy Mask Salesman's lips, he had expected them. "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?"

Link swallowed, as he had always felt a strange anxiety around this man--an anxiety he would rather not deal with. "Yes."

The man laughed, "I can help you if in exchange you help me."

Link took a few steps closer to the man, "I can't do that."

His smiled faded and eyebrows creased inwards, "You what?" The Happy Mask Salesman grabbed Link's collar, shaking him by his neck.

Link's feet dangled as he spit out, "Your problem doesn't even matter."

He dropped him, causing a thud as he hit the cement floor. "You don't understand!" The Happy Mask Salesman almost whined, his brows upturned in concern.

Link got up and brushed himself off, "I do."

"Link, what are you doing?" Tatl buzzed.

"Shut up, Tatl."

She flew back, it wasn't the right moment for her to intervene.

"Please, I just need you to find a special mask for me." The Happy Mask Salesman out on a smile.

"No."

"Then what did you come here for?"

"You seem to know a lot."

"I am a travelling mask salesman after all. I've been around." He rubbed his hands together.

"I know."

"Yes, you do. Thank you for returning my mask."

Link gasped, "Wait, what? How do you remember?"

"Remember what? Please, find my missing mask for me. I believe you can do it. But you must hurry, for only 61 hours remain."

"You had just said--"

"I can help you in return. I'll help bring you back to your orignal form."

"What? I'm not a deku."

He chuckled, "I know."

"You--I refuse."

The happy mask salesman seemed to brush off Link's words, "Believe in your strengths... Believe."

"I believe that you are using me, not in my strengths. I'm not leaving till you explain everything to me."

"Link, are you sure--"

"Shut up, Tatl." Link told her again.

"It's your timer, not mine. Waste it away all you like." The Happy Mask Salesman said.

"It's the timer for the world."

"No... It's just for you. And your little fairy friend who so foolishly chose to follow you around."

Link bit his tongue, his feet planted on the degrading cement floor.

"Go."

"No. I want answers."

"Perhaps they are closed than you think... I've already told you everything," The Mask Salesman's tone shifted to anger. "You don't realize how much trouble you've caused!"

"You're a sick man," Link spat. "C'mon Tatl, there's no use to come here, just like I had originally thought."

They left, welcomed by Clock Town.

"Link, who is he?"

"Just a creep. He's haunted me, mocking me ever since I got here." Link marched forward without a destination.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know."

Tatl flew behind him, "Well don't you think we should know where we're going?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes! Just because some creep bothers you doesn't mean you should just give up."

Link sighed, "Well then what's your plan?"

"We can talk to the banker again. See if he remembers."

"Really? You know what, fine. Let's do that." Link turned around and changed the direction of his march.

"You need to calm down."

Link took a deep breath, "Yeah, but I also need information but am I getting any? No. This is why I had given up. Maybe I should have given up again."

"No, no, that's so wrong."

"What's wrong about it?" Link almost laughed. It was all humorless.

"We have found new information! About Time Shift Stones."

"What good does it do?" Link asked in frustration.

"Maybe we just need one of those stone to fix the time loop," Tatl offered.

"I can't be that simple."

"Well you don't know that."

"Have I told you that you annoy me?"

"Yes, but I said I would help you. So I'm going to."

"How is this helping?" Link sighed. "I don't even know why I'm trying to fix this whole loop anymore. If the last ten years have taught me anything, its that it's all pointless."

"I beg to differ."

By then they had reached the banker.

"Why did I even bother to come here?" Link sighed, walking up to the counter.

"Because you want to go home--I can tell that much."

"Hurry up and get in the hat, Tatl."

"Sorry." She scurried under the worn green fabric.

Link cleared his throat, bringing his attention to the banker. "Hello. Do you remember me?" He got straight to the point, he wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. Link had enough frustration for one day, or even one lifespan.

"Who?" The banker questioned.

"Obviously you don't. That's all I needed to know."

"Mister, did you have a reason to talk to me?" He greedily clapped his hands on the counter.

"...no."

"You can put rupees in the bank for free--"

"I don't care about that. So only the money in the Time Shift Stone safe stays?"

"Wait how do you--"

"Thanks for the info." Link started to walk away.

Tatl banged on the inside of his hat, however, "Link, go back there and get some money! If you're going to pout, fine, but we need a place to stay."

"You really are annoying. I don't need money if we can get to the inn before Link does."

"Um, what?"

"We're going to steal a reservation of someone who has my name."

"Isn't that wrong?"

"Yes, but it'll be okay. I've done this before, and he always ends up fine. I can bring him inside, but there's not enough room so I just bring him blankets."

"That's still--"

"We can reset time so that it never happened."

"But--"

"I don't remember you having such strong morals."

Tatl flew out from under Link's hat, "I don't remember you with such weak morals. One of us changed, and I think it's you."

------

Okay guys so I might just post on Saturdays again because writing has been going slow. Once things speed back up I'll go back to twice a week, but don't expect a Wednesday update this week. I really didn't want to have to do this but I don't want to fall behind

So see you next week!

I'll try to get back to two updates a week as soon as I can, sorry about that.