Author's Note: I'm backkkkkkkkk! That being said, I give you that could possibly be one of the most randomness idea I had ever come up with. The hunt for the Hero's clothes begins! And the Happy Birthday belongs to SelphieKinneas175. It's just with a different scene ^^

Chapter 21: The Way's Theft

Colin sighed, a bit annoyed. "Link, I don't see why you're making such a big deal about your missing clothes. I mean it's just well clothes."

"You don't understand, Colin." I whispered, furiously. "When you get to wear them one day, you will understand. Right now, we need to focus on the clues that could lead us to it."

The young boy rolled his eyes.

"And I can't believe my hat is missing!" I stated, saddened. "AGAIN!"

Colin sighed, exasperated as he lowered his head down. Besides, the ground is far more interesting than what they're currently doing. They are just watching Ilia and Beth laughing and talking. That being said, Colin was bored out of his mind.

"Good. They're gone. Let's go!" I jolted out of the hiding spot while startling Colin in the process since I darted out so fast.

"Well so far I found no evidence." I grumbled after I searched the village. "They're good."

"Mmm…" came Colin's reply. He then darted his eyes only to have a confused look as he saw Talo doing some weird movements with his hands.

Charades?

He studied them closely. Talo made frantic moves as if to say 'hurry up!' or 'what's taking him so long?'

Colin replied with his own silent words such as 'he can't find them. He's getting pissed.'

"Who are you motioning to Colin?"

Colin quickly dropped his hands, fiddling at the edge of his tunic. "N-nothing. Say Link," he quickly responded. "Have you tried to go any of the buildings? Like the Inn? Or the Sanctuary?"

"Um no…"

"Then let's go." he urged me, pushing first to the Sanctuary.

Colin took a glance back to where Talo once hid so when he came out of his hiding spot, Colin nodded.

Well, searching in the Sanctuary proved to be absolutely useless. I was starting to get suspicious of Colin since he started to act weird. I mean, what kind of a person uses their hands as if they were talking to someone?

I raised an eyebrow when Colin galloped back and forth, shaking my head at his movements.

Crazy kid.

"There's nothing here. I checked the basement as well. Can we go to the Inn? I'm hungry."

Colin nodded.

So we trekked the path that led to the Inn. But the moment I entered, I was met with darkness.

"Hey…why are the lights out? I mean, it's too early to go to sleep." I mumbled.

Colin went towards the light switch and with a flick, voices were heard nearly startling me.

"Happy Birthday, Link!" the voices spoke, cheering.

I blinked. "I…wh…uh…huh?"

Ilia giggled. "It's your birthday, silly!"

I placed a smile.

"Can we eat now? I'm hungry!" Talo moaned.

"Oh Talo you're always hungry." Beth rolled her eyes.

"No I'm not."

"Yea you are."

"Am not.

"Are too."

"Oh by the way, Link." Ilia said. "I think you need them." she then threw me something at my face.

I caught it with quick reflexes only to gasp with delight.

"My clothes!" I cried out, hugging them. I then went to the bathroom to change into my proper ones before resuming eating my cake.

Just as I was about to happily dig into my cake, something cold greeted my face. I got out of it, sputtering as I realized that someone had shoved my face into my now smushed cake.

I sharply gave a glare at Ilia who laughed then smirked.

Oh, it's on.

I stood up, casually walking while telling them that I had forgotten my drink on the counter. When I went around Ilia, I snickered.

"Don't forget to eat your cake." I replied, grinning before having her head into the cake.

There were shocked gasps, making everything to be deathly silent. Ilia was shocked as her cake was covering then face and then she grinned evilly.

"Don't worry, Hero." she replied, coyly. "If I were you I would start running." she responded as she leaned against me causing me to raise an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

She nodded then growled. "Because you're gonna get it!" she shoved the cake down my back.

"Ack! That was not good!" I whined, trying to get the cake out.

Pretty soon, there was a cake fight. Even Renado joined the fight well occasionally…

By the time we finished our dinner and the cake fight, it was already nighttime. We cleaned ourselves up, changing into our Pjs.

"So guys," I started when we all went to my bed, sitting comfortable. "Who wants to hear a story?"

There were shouts of 'yeah!'

"Scary story!" Talo exclaimed.

"A romantic one!" Beth replied, cheerfully.

"Scary story!" Talo argued back.

"Romantic one!"

"Scary!"

"Romantic!"

The two kids argued back and forth until they started to gang up on Malo who looked unfazed.

He always looked unfazed…

"What do you say, Malo? Should Link tell a scary story or a romantic one?" Talo asked as he intensely stared at Malo who had look of emotionless face.

"Scary story." he replied.

"Yeah!" Talo pumped his fist into the air.

"No!" Beth moaned before cuddling tightly with her pillow. "I hate scary stories. They always give me nightmares."

Luda smiled. "It's okay, Beth. My father once told me that if something scary you, think of something else."

Beth smiled. "Thanks Luda." she then cuddled closely beside Luda and Ilia.

"Come on Link! Tell us a good story!" Talo shouted.

I chuckled. These kids really wanted a story eh? I'll give them one.

"Alright…" I paused.

Thunder boomed unexpectedly, causing Beth to jump with startle.

Perfect.

"There once was a girl who decided to have a sleepover—"I started but got interrupted.

"What kind of a story is that?" Talo demanded.

I frowned. "Hey! Just a minute! I can't rush things in quickly."

"Sorry." he mumbled.

"Their parents are out of town and everything was perfect. Nothing bad was happening. Around midnight, the girls started to hear banging," I made a loud startling sound as I spoke the word banging which caused Beth to jump when I was between her and Ilia.

Beth gave out a shriek while Ilia giggled.

"Not funny!" Beth said.

I chuckled. "It came from downstairs. Frightened, the girls sent one of them to go and investigate."

Beth squeaked with fear. "Don't go!" she suddenly blurted it out.

I gave a crooked smile.

"Come on Beth. You're such a scaredy-cat." Talo said, a bit annoyed.

Beth scowled.

"So one of them went and investigated. Eventually, she returns only something doesn't feel right. The rest of the girls discovered this so when they reach out in the dark, they can feel the nightgown but…"

The light from the nightstand suddenly went out and all they could hear was footsteps.

"Nothing was at the top!" I exclaimed, scaring Beth who screamed. The lights flickered on.

"The end."

Talo frowned. "That's it? That was a terrible scary story."

I glared. "And I suppose you could do something better?"

He closed his mouth. "Another one." he challenged.

"No…" Beth moaned.

"Fine." I replied then just like that, I had another story. "There once was a man who happily lived in a cottage house. He lived like that for quite some time until the next day, he suddenly was dead. No one knew how. Now, there was another family but they paid no attention to the warning of what the villagers gave them. They just thought it was just simply to scare them."

"I don't like where this is going." Ilia said, a bit uneasy.

I just grinned. "Everything was fine but until on a day, a certain day, at midnight, one of the family—a girl—started to hear a noise. But, she paid no attention to it since it probably was something out in the village from villagers. It was also thundering and raining that day. The noise began to be louder so of course, the girl had enough of it so she started to check it out."

"And they lived happily ever after! The end!" Beth blurted it out, hiding behind her pillow.

Talo shot her an annoyed look. "There are no happily ever after in a scary story!" he then turned to me. "Continue."

"She went to the bathroom since the noise was coming in there but then she gave out a scream. Terrified from the sudden scream, her parents went to check it out only to receive a bloody message that was written on the bathtub curtains which wrote: I am watching you. No one had noticed that there was a ghost, watching them outside their cottage."

I took a look at Talo who by this time actually looked scared since he was hiding behind Ilia. I also took a glance at Malo who…still had an emotionless face.

The heck…? He is a zombie or something?!

"I think it's time for the kids to go to sleep." a sudden voice got announced, making Talo and Beth to scream.

There, in the doorway stood Renado with an amused look.

"Don't scare us like that." Beth said, clutching her chest.

He chuckled. "My apology."

"Yeah, I agree with Mr. Renado. Let's go to bed." Talo said quickly before he glomped on me.

"Hey, leave room for me!" Beth rushed to the other side of me.

Looks like I'm their protector for the night…

I grunted when something poked me at the side. "Whassat? You stole my muffin." I mumbled.

"Link."

"What?" I flickered my eyes, only to see Talo's worried look.

"I can't find Ilia."

Paled, I fumbled with the sheets as I jolted up. "What? Stay here. Don't move."

I quickly placed my boots on then darted out of the Inn. I breathed out a sigh of relief when I saw Ilia with her elbows sitting on the rail as she looked like she was deep in thought.

Of course, Talo hadn't checked outside. It might because of the rain that is still pouring or the story I had told them…

"You know, you shouldn't have worried the kids like that."

Ilia turned around and smiled when she saw me. "Sorry. I didn't mean to. I just need to go for some fresh air." she then beckoned me to join. "That was quite a good story you told there."

I smiled. "I try." I looked at her face. "You have something going on in your mind."

"You are right."

"What is it? If you don't mind me asking that is." I added.

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "No I don't. I feel like I could trust you. Anyways…about that story you told…it just doesn't feel right."

"What do you mean?"

"Like I felt like there was a bigger mystery that wasn't solved. Like for that man who died. How could no one know? Usually, they would know."

I chuckled. "Ah…that is quite a mystery but I'm afraid I can't tell you."

She gave me a look then widened her eyes. "You mean you made it up?" she asked, surprised.

I gave her a cheeky smile. "Surprise! I'll give you a cookie if you can figure it out how the man died. Good night Ilia."

"Good night, Link." she couldn't help but to smile.

"Don't forget to come in."

She laughed. "I won't."

Thump.

I shifted around.

Thump.

Midna froze at the sound of the noise until she frowned. She looked to see that I was…snoring.

Ugh, pig. Midna thought.

Thump!

She then whirled around, being paranoid about that noise. The imp stared at the doorway.

THUMP!

"Link!" she shrieked.

I didn't answer. Mind you, I was in fact a heavy sleeper.

The noise from what Midna had heard became even more loudly.

THUMP!

"OW! BLOODY HELL!" I suddenly shouted, accidentally knocking Talo and Beth off the bed.

"Ack! Oof!" the two kids shouted. "Link!"

"Sorry." I muttered, massaging my head. I glared at my shadow who gave a sheepish grin before motioning her hands to the doorway. I gave her an odd look.

Weird child.

"Seriously what was that for?" Beth asked, angrily dusting herself off.

"I said I was sorry." I mumbled. "Something hit me in the head."

Talo grunted.

Thump.

The kids froze at the sudden noise as they quickly ran behind me.

"What was that?" Talo whispered, not daring to peek.

"What was what?" I quizzed.

"That noise."

"Ugh, Talo you had too much sugar to eat!" Beth chastised him.

"No there was a noise!" he protested.

Thump!

Beth froze as she too (most likely) heard the noise.

"See?" Talo whispered, triumphantly. He knew when Beth is frozen.

"Well I don't hear it." I muttered, a bit annoyed.

THUMP!

It was then I froze.

"Scratch that. I heard it." I eyed the door cautiously. "Stay here."

Scared, the kids whispered furiously. "No!" they then latched onto me as if their life depended on me.

"Look. I won't be gone for too long. Just please stay here. I don't want you guys to be hurt."

Scared and frightened, the two kids held each other.

I unsheathed my sword as the noise became still but I still didn't lose my guard.

"Midna, do you know what's causing it?" I hissed. I saw my shadow shaking her head.

If it was from my last story, I would be mildly surprise and well probably scared…

Just then, I heard screams so I quickly darted back into the room only to see the lights had flickered on. I saw Beth and Talo both clutching their furious beating hearts as they glared at Malo and Renado; I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"What is the meaning of this?" Renado asked, frowning with disappointment.

"Sorry, Mr. Renado. It's just that we heard a noise and Link went to investigate." Talo stuttered.

"I didn't went further because I heard your screams." I said, startling Talo.

"Oh Link!" Talo breathed out a sigh of relief.

I saw Renado's frown being deepened.

"Noise?" he asked. "What noise?"

"It sounded like a thump." Beth explained.

"I can assure you children, there is nothing to be afraid off. Try and go back to sleep." he told them. He was about to flicker off the lights until Talo spoke.

"Can we leave on the lights? Please?"

The shaman took a glance at Talo's frightened face then nodded. Suddenly, the lights flickered off.

"Link was that you?"

"No it wasn't me."

"It's that ghost!"

"Talo, there's no such thing as a ghost!"

"Says the story!"

"Shh!"

"Link, stay here with the kids. I'm going to investigate."

No respond.

"Link!"

"Oh no! The ghost got him!" Talo spoke, fearfully.

"Wait shut up! I hear a noise."

The room went deathly silent. As soon as the lights flickered back on, the kids screamed minus Malo.

There showed Colin with a sleepy look on his face.

"What's going on?" he yawned, tiredly.

"We heard a noise. Did you hear it?"

He shook his head.

"Honestly, Colin how can you sleep during that?!" Beth exclaimed.

He rolled his eyes before eyeing the room. "Where's Link?"

Thunder boomed as the door flew opened. I panted since I practically ran. Ilia didn't show up which made me to be worried. My eyes frantically darted around the village, scanning it until I heard a sobbing noise. I then made my eyes to look back and there was Ilia on the ground just diagonally ahead of the Inn.

"Ilia!" I shouted, running up to her. "Ilia! What's wrong? Hey, it's okay." I soothed her.

"Link!" she latched onto me, crying. After she was calmed down (a bit), I carefully started to bombard her with questions.

"What made you cry? Why didn't you went back in?"

"It was the ghost, Link! I saw the ghost!" she cried out. "Right there!"

I froze as I followed her finger. There, near the spring I saw a tree. However, because of my wolf's eyes, I was able to see far. I drew in a breath when I saw something coming out of the tree.

Feeling a bad presence coming from it, I spoke.

"Ilia get back inside and close all the windows and the doors!" I snarled then ran towards it.

As I did, I quickly transformed into a wolf when I leapt into the air halfway through the path. I didn't know that Ilia had seen it since she gasped.

Growling with anger, I quickly dashed for that thing and then I lunged at it only to hit the ground instead. When I looked around, I saw that it wasn't there. My eyes darted around. I have to be honest though, it was hard to see because of all the rain that continuously poured.

A sudden laugh came in, making me to continuously turn around every second or so. I jumped around to try and search for that pesky figure.

"Hero, Hero…" it started sing in a sing song tone voice. "Why do you deny?"

Once I turned around, my eyes widened when I saw a ghostly figure…