You trade 50 Gold Bits for 500 Zen.

Once you are done trading, you let Honourshine exchange some of her own bits. She decides on a fair few more than you, by the looks of it — never one to underestimate the cost of ignorance.

And with that taken care of, you thank Azure Spark for her fortuitous yet invaluable help. She grins back at you, and nods in response.

Azure Spark: "Mh. Good luck. And! Be very careful, okay? Listen to guide'o, always!"

You promise that you will, and bid farewell to the merchant. Then, following her directions, you make your way into the verdant town, up a curved stone path, and around the enclosed grounds of the temple.

You stop in front of what appears to be an ordinary pond, quiet and isolated, bordered with stones and flowers, and shimmering in beams of sunlight. You look around for a sign hinting at the instructions you were given, but find nothing of the sort.

Honourshine: "Hm. If this is the place, then it might as well be a secret."

Moonflower: "Ooh, but we gotta throw somethin' in, right?"

You nod, and volunteer to give up one of your own items as payment. After thinking it over, you decide on your star hairpin; while it may not be of much practical or monetary value, the nostalgic memories within make the past few months feel like years ago.

You look upon the gemstone socketed within, and remember finding it on your first mining expedition which led to your chance meeting with Moonflower. You recall getting it enchanted later that day by Crystal Charm, the first friend you made in your new hometown.

And that is to say nothing of how well it matched the golden star on your flank. Your mind wanders to the many times it brought attention from one to the other — of the night of passion you spent with a playful stylist, or of the magic you and your friends shared with a cleric in need...

Honourshine: "Daydreaming again, my dear brother?"

You snap back to reality, and realize that your body has been remembering along with you. Fortunately, the looming threat of your foalhood friend's mocking eyes pushes any improper thoughts back to the deepest recesses of your mind.

Moonflower: "Heehee! Aww."

Honourshine: "Let's not give our guide the wrong impression, hm?"

You nod, and apologize for getting carried away. Back on the task at hoof, you give your favourite hairpin one last goodbye kiss, and gently drop it into the spring's calm waters.

You drop Star Hairpin.

You watch in silence as the small shadow slowly sinks deeper and deeper until suddenly, a distant glimmer of light shines from far below. A moment, then the light shoots upward, and a glowing figure appears in a splash. A small creature, which strangely resembles a miniature filly with translucent wings, holds up the item you just parted with.

Creature: "Hey, you dropped this!"

You nod, and tell the creature that you were told to use it as payment for a guide. The sheer smugness that brightens up her face gives you pause.

Creature: "Ohhh, I see how it is. Let's see how much this is worth, then!"

The creature begins to inspect its prize closely, looking at details you feel only she can see. After a few seconds, her eyes widen, and she visibly grows flustered.

Creature: "Wha—?! Which circle of the Underworld are you from?! Ah, well, I guess emotions are emotions... Fine! I'll act as your guide. You can call me Tsu-Ko."

You introduce your party to Tsu-Ko and, curious, you ask if there is something wrong with the hairpin you offered. In a flash of colourful glitter, the item disappears from her hooves, and she pouts an evasive response.

Tsu-Ko: "There's nothing wrong with it, but you... well, you're a piece of work."

Moonflower: "Heehee... but you're gonna help us, right?"

Tsu-Ko: "I'll try my best, but I don't do miracles."

Honourshine: "... Fair enough, but what do you do?"

Tsu-Ko: "Like I said, I'll act as your guide! While I'm around, my magic will translate spoken Kirinese into Ponish for you, and vice versa for others. Pretty nifty, huh? I can also read things out loud for you, if it's short enough.

That said, speaking to the locals won't get you far if you act like a deviant — and honestly, I don't even know where to start with you lot. Except for you, Glasses; you seem alright."

Honourshine: "Thanks...?"

Tsu-Ko: "So, I can help you get to where you need to go. The question is: where are you going?"