Chapter 7: A Meeting and a Robbery

Author's Note: So. I'm back. Sorry about taking so long to upload more chapters. In this chapter, we'll wrap up in Clock Town (I hope). I might devote this cycle to doing stuff around Clock Town, actually.

Night of the First Day

60 Hours Remain

"Hmm…Tatl?" questioned Link.

"Yes?" replied the fairy.

"We have four hours to kill. What do we do?"

"We wait."

And so they stood outside the Curiosity Shop…for four hours.

56 Hours Remain

Torgaz unlocked the door and opened it from inside. "Get in here," he whispered, wearing sunglasses. He appeared to have been wearing a wig earlier, as he was bald now.

Link and Tatl complied.

"Don't tell anyone, but…Kafei's run into some problems. He's been staying in the back room of the Curiosity Shop. Things happened between him and this thief Sakon…he's supposed to deliver a Big Bomb Bag to me tonight…" Torgaz explained.

"If he's a thief…he's stealing the Big Bomb Bag, isn't he?" asked Link.

"Well, yeah, that's a given, buddy…"

"Who's he stealing it from?"

"Now why would I tell you that?"

Link drew his sword and pointed it at Torgaz.

"Okay, okay! The Old Lady from the Bomb Shop…she's bringing a delivery of Big Bomb Bags in from Snowhead…midnight, North Clock Town, she arrives…that's when Sakon says he's going to rob her!" Torgaz said, panicking.

"But if you stop Sakon…he won't come here, and Kafei might not ever get to fix things!"

Link pondered.

"I'll help the old lady this time."

"What are you saying, Link?!" yelled Tatl angrily.

"Next three-day cycle, we help Kafei," replied Link.

"Oh…"

The two of them rushed out to North Clock Town and waited patiently.

"Huh?" Link said, glancing over at the slide nearby.

"What is it?" Tatl asked.

"Look…there's a man standing there."

"And…?"

"He must be the thief…"

"We have to wait, Link…"

And so they did…for two hours.

Night of the First Day

54 Hours Remain

The old lady made her way towards the middle of the path, which split in three.

The balding man that Link had suspected to be the thief pranced over to her and bumped into her, grabbing the sack of Bomb Bags she was carrying.

"Ouch! Watch out!" exclaimed the old lady. Then she realized the thief was running away with her luggage.

"Stop! Thief! Give the old lady her luggage back!" she exclaimed.

"Stop right there!" said Link, drawing his sword and charging at the thief. He sliced the bag off of the man's shoulder. Sakon fell to the ground.

"You're not going anywhere, you bastard," said Link angrily.

"Watch your language, young man!" commented the old lady.

"Don't. Rob. The. Elderly," scolded Link.

"Uh….I won't anymore…" pleaded Sakon.

"That's not good enough."

"Then what do you want?"

"I want you to be punished. You clearly robbed Kafei a while back, and I just saw you try to steal this old lady's luggage. Come on. We're going to the mayor's residence. Right now," Link said.

"I'll wait here…" commented the old lady. "I have something for you when you get back."

Link marched Sakon into East Clock Town, and knocked on the door of the Mayor's Residence. The door creaked open, and the secretary glanced at him.

"We're closed," she said.

"I just apprehended this man trying to rob an old lady!" objected Link.

"Oh. Come in," said the secretary.

"Mr. Mayor!" she yelled to the other room.

"Yes?! I'm very busy in here!' shouted back the Mayor.

"Send Captain Viscen out here, please!"

"Why?"

"Someone apprehended a thief!"

"Okay. Viscen, get out there."

The captain of the guards walked out of the office.

"Eh? What have we here?" Viscen questioned.

"This is Sakon. I caught him attempting to rob the Old Lady from the Bomb Shop of some Big Bomb Bags she was delivering," explained Link.

"…Ah. I am Captain Viscen of the town guard…Hmm…so…you're the thief going around robbing people?"

Sakon nodded guiltily.

"Hey, kid," Viscen said. Link looked up.

"Thanks for your hard work just now. As a token of my appreciation, take this." He handed a bag to Link. "This is a Big Bullet Bag. It can hold 40 Deku Seeds. You're a kid, you probably have a slingshot."

"Come on, buddy. I have a meeting to get back to," Viscen said, pushing Sakon into the Mayor's Office, and shutting the door.

"Hmm…you're free to come visit after hours now…" informed the secretary.

Link nodded, then he and Tatl made their way back to North Clock Town.

"You're back…" said the Old Lady.

"Yes," replied Link.

"Thank you. Since he didn't make off with them, I can finally stock Big Bomb Bags at our shop. Maybe I'll put 'em out tomorrow."

"That's it?" said Link.

"Shush!" scolded Tatl.

"Yes, I must thank you. It's a dangerous mask, but maybe you could use it to throw your own festival fireworks show," replied the old lady, handing Link a mask resembling a bomb with a skull on the front. "It's the Blast Mask," she informed him. "Well, thanks for helping me. Take care..." The Old Lady made her way back to the Bomb Shop.

"I feel good now," replied Link.

"Didn't Torgaz mention that Kafei was staying in the back room of the Curiosity Shop?" asked Tatl.

"Yeah, he did…"

"Where is the back room?" asked Link.

"In the Laundry Pool," informed Tatl.

"Then let's go!" Link said, as the two of them made their way there. Link knocked on the door to the back room.

A small boy wearing a Keaton mask and purple clothes opened the door.

"Who is it?" the boy questioned.

"We're looking for Kafei," answered Link.

"Get in here!" the boy exclaimed, grabbing Link and shoving him in the door. "You too, fairy."

Tatl complied fearfully. The boy shut the door, and led them up the ramp to the main part of the backroom.

"You're looking for Kafei?" asked the boy. "What made you come here?"

"Torgaz said Kafei was hiding here," explained Link.

"Torgaz, you fool…" muttered the boy under his breath. "Well, I guess it's no secret anymore…But tell me, can you be trusted with a secret?"

Link and Tatl nodded.

The boy removed the Keaton Mask. "I am Kafei," he explained.

"But…" began Link.

"The Kafei we're looking for is an adult. When I look at you, I just see a child," pointed out Tatl.

Kafei sighed. "I was turned into this by a strange imp wearing a mask..." he explained.

"I know who you're talking about. Skull Kid. He briefly turned me into a Deku Scrub," replied Link. "I was able to heal myself though. If I heal you, will you come out of hiding?"

"But I'm not hiding because I look this way."

"Then why are you hiding?"

"When I was turned into this, I went to see the Great Fairy in the shrine near the North Gate... But on the way, my precious mask -a wedding ceremony mask—was stolen from me by some prancing man with a grinning face!"

Link gasped. "Sakon," he said.

"How did you know his name?" asked Kafei.

"I apprehended him trying to rob the Old Lady from the Bomb Shop of her shipment of Big Bomb Bags about midnight. He's been taken into custody," informed Link.

"…Really?! Did he have my mask?" said Kafei hopefully.

"No…I don't think so…" sighed Link.

"The important thing is that he's no longer running about robbing the weak. But still…I was trying to…"

"Take your Sun's Mask and show it to the fellows at the Milk Bar," finished Link.

"…How did you know?"

"Your mother hired me to search for you. To look for clues, I read your diary."

"…I guess I can let that go, considering the circumstances. But yes. On that night, I not only was turned into a child, but I was also robbed of my Sun's Mask…"

"Well...You're just careless. You're like my partner..." scolded Tatl.

"Tatl! Be more considerate!" said Link angrily.

"Before my wedding ceremony I was quite happy. I was targeted because of what I had been turned into," explained Kafei.

"Oh my. I pity you," replied Tatl.

"YOU PITY ME?! THAT'S IT?" said Kafei angrily. "What is wrong with you? You show no sympathy for me, and you seem to be condescending towards me."

"Tatl, stop it," advised Link.

"I know Anju is worried...but I can't go out yet. I made a promise to her that I would bring the wedding mask and greet her," sighed Kafei.

"That's so sweet…"

"This pendant... Give it to Anju," said Kafei, removing his Pendant and handing it to Link. "I call it the Pendant of Memories."

Link placed it in his bag. "I'll keep it safe," he nodded.

"Thank you," replied Kafei. "Keep what we just talked about a secret from everyone."

"I will…except your family."

"Why my family?"

"Because they need to know…especially Anju and your mother!" exclaimed Link.

"All right, fine…You can tell my mother and Anju, BUT ONLY them," requested Kafei.

Link and Tatl nodded, and they exited the building. The two of them made their way to East Clock Town and found the Stock Pot Inn with ease. They knocked on the door.
"We're closed!" said a woman from inside.

"Are you Anju?" asked Link.

"Yes," replied the woman.

"I have something for you," informed Link.

Anju opened the door.

"May I come in?" asked Link.

"Only for a moment," replied Anju.

"Thank you."

"Now, what do you have for me?" inquired Anju.

Link retrieved the pendant and showed it to her.

Anju gasped.

"Ah! ...It's from Kafei. Th...Th...Thank you...Very much!" she said, smiling.

"I must explain to you why Kafei has gone missing," stated Link.

"Please, go ahead."

Link proceeded to recount Kafei's tale leading to his robbery.

"That's terrible…So he doesn't have his Sun's Mask…That makes sense…No wonder he hasn't been around lately…What's your name?" Anju asked.

"Link."

"Link…as thanks…I have something to give you…You have a Slingshot, right?"

Link nodded.

"Hmm…how about a Scattershot? It's a Slingshot that can fire multiple shots at once! It used to belong to Kafei…."

Link smiled. "Yes, that's perfect!"

"Okay then…I'll be right back," informed Anju. Anju went into the other room and then came back with a rather interesting-looking Slingshot. It appeared to have a larger band on it. She handed it to Link.

"Thank you," said Link, bowing in respect.

"No, thank you," replied Anju. "Just tell Kafei to try to get here tomorrow, please?"

"I will," replied Link.

Night of the First Day

50 Hours Remain

Author's Note: So, what do you think of this chapter? Link got some upgrades for his Slingshot, and the Anju and Kafei sidequest took…a different turn this three-day cycle. Trust me, this is a one-time fluke. Every other time Link does this, it'll proceed normally…I hope. Anju and Kafei WILL be elaborated on more during this three-day cycle, but it'll be different from what was planned.