"How dare you not honor my demands!" the storyteller said in a falsetto voice, as he held up an illustration of an angry looking, hooked-nose witch yelling at an older man wearing a crown. "First off," the storyteller switched to a more masculine-gruff voice to reflect the man's, "your demands are completely ridiculous!" The storyteller shook the picture to emphasis the last two words, earning a few giggles from the group of children in front of him. "Second, well, why should I honor your demands?" he continued before switching over to the witch's voice. "Hmmm. All good points. Okay. How about a trade, then?" Back to the man's voice, "Ha! What could you possible trade?" The storyteller moved the picture is a slightly mischievous way. "Well," he spoke with the witch's voice, "how about...the princess! M'whahaha!" He pulled out the next illustration showing the princess being turned into stone, he even added lighting bolts to represent the evil magic. "Aiiyee," he gave a muffled, high-pitch scream. The children gasped. In the next illustration, the witch was carrying off the turned-to-stone princess away from the castle. "That's right! Until my demands are met, you will never see the princess again!"

"And that," the storyteller came out from behind his illustrations, "is the story so far." He was short, young man, with buck teeth and sandy-colored hair.

"What's going to happen to the princess?" one little girl asked.

"Right now she's still in the clutches of the witch." Seeing the children growing anxious, he gave a light-hearted laugh. "But don't worry! If you know the legends of old, you'll know a hero in green is going to come along and rescue her!" He held up an illustration of man wearing the legendary green clothes of the Hero and holding a sword in a cool action pose. "That's why..." he glanced around at many of the men, even a few women, dressed in green, "there are so many people in Castle Town these days."

A few of the parents looked at each other and murmuring: "Oh, is that the reason for this fashion trend."

"Do you really think the Hero is here?" a boy asked.

"Hey, with all these people around, one of them has to be. So, how did you all like the story?"

The children were satisfied, knowing a happy ending would come. With their children having been entertained, the parents left rupees in the basket in front of the storyteller. A handful of the boys started swinging imaginary swords, acting out the witch's defeat, and a few girls pretended to be the princess. Which was basically standing perfectly still, since the princess was a statue.

"Move it, princess," their respective parents said. Laughter was held and the storyteller went to put away the rupees and his illustrations.

"Hmm?" He looked up and saw there was still on audience member left: A young man with fair hair and dressed in blue. The young man was also asleep. "Hey..." the storytelling said, sounding a little hurt. "My story wasn't that boring was it?" He could hear snoring coming from the young man. "Aww! It was that boring?" the storyteller asked, feeling distressed.

The outcry woke up the young man. "Huh? What?" He looked around. "Oh no, did I miss the end of the story?"

"You did like it?" the storyteller asked.

Wiping sleep out of his eye, the young man nodded. "Well, yeah, I love those stories. I love them so much," he gave a yawn, "that's why I'm so sleepy. I didn't get much sleep on the ride over here."

"Oh, are you one of those would-be heroes?"

"Me?" The young man pointed to himself. "Oh no, I'm not would-be hero. I'm a would-be scholar!" He gave a friendly smile.

"Would-be scholar? How do you become one of those?"

"Ummmm..." the young man thought back to the reason. "They kinda kick you out of the university if you flunk so many times."

"That's too bad, pal."

The young man nodded. "Yeah, that's what most of my professors said, too. Especially since I know all the legends. It's just..." the young man trailed off.

"Hey, you don't have to explain it to me. School isn't my thing, either."

"Yeah, I know, right! But, I mean I got to make a living somehow. So, I thought, why not become a storyteller like you?"

"Aw," the storyteller rubbed the back of his head. "Well, it pleases me that you think so highly of my story, but this is just a side job. You gotta have a couple of them to pay the bills."

The young man nodded. "Mm. Mm."

"You know, why don't you hang around with me. I could take you on as an apprentice. I never had an underling..."

"That's not a bad idea. Maybe after the princess is saved, though. I heard a bunch of those would-be heroes are going to check out a lead tomorrow and I want to go with them."

"Huh? But you said you weren't a would-be hero."

"I'm not. It's just," the young man reached into his satchel and pulled out a journal. "I really do love these stories! And to have one actually happening in my lifetime? How cool is that!"

"You seem really psyched about this!"

"I am! Like I said, I know all the legends. When I was a student, I got to read all known recorded stories. I even got to talk to the Gossip Stones who told me some secret stuff." He held up a picture of one of the Gossip Stones. "I want to add to the collection of legends. That's why I came to Castle Town, so I could see everything with my own eyes!"

The storyteller gave a chuckle. "Good luck on that. Nothing's happened since Princess Zelda was kidnapped, what...3 months ago? Yeah, 3 months ago. Hmm. Well, besides all these would-be heroes showing up. I mean, people are looking, but nothing." The storyteller held out his hand towards the young man. "So, what's your name, stranger?"

The young man shook the storyteller's hand. "I'm Link."

"Ha!" the story teller laughed. "You even have the name that means 'hero'."

Link shrugged and smiled. "It's a popular name in my town."

"Hey, Link, I got an idea. Since you didn't get to hear the end of my story, buy me a milk and I'll finish it for you."

"Okay!"

The two set off for the popular establishment: The Milk Bar. Fortunately, because they arrived before the lunch rush began, they were able to get a good table. As per his request, Link got the storyteller, and himself, a milk. In fact, many patrons were enjoying a glass of ice cold milk with their meal. too. But don't be fooled, the Milk Bar didn't just serve milk to drink. No, of course not. They also served juice.

"Milk? Juice? Bah!" scoffed one beefy looking man to the bartender. "I don't want those baby drinks. I want a real, adult drink! Something that'll kick you in the face and put hair on your chest!"

The bartender leaned in, nodding his head. "Don't worry, I'll hook you up. I got the good stuff in back." With that, he ventured into said back for a moment before reappearing with a mug. "Here you go: One cup of black coffee."

"Yes!" cheered the beefy man. "That's what I'm talking about."

"So," the story teller continued at their table. "How did you like the rest of the story?"

Link nodded while he chewed on his lunch. "Great adaption. I love the pictures. I'm surprised you didn't include the witch's demands in it, though."

"That's because...her demands are silly."

Link nodded again. "When I first heard her demands, I was shocked. I mean, in the tales, whoever kidnaps the princess wanted to harness the immense power inside of her. Not want...those things."

"I was shocked just because of how silly those things are."

"Hmm. If it was gold or jewels or magical items, I could see that, but...How does she expect anyone to get those things?" Link crossed his arms and looked down. "I guess they are kinda silly."

"Very silly. In fact, my friends say, oh hey! There they are." The storyteller waved them over.

Link saw five guys pulling a chair to the table. Three of them were burly, tall men, while the other 2 were small like the storyteller. They had perfect timing because a whole load of people started to show up for the lunch rush.

"Hey gang, meet my new friend," the storyteller said. "This is Link. He's from Ordon."

"Oh, that's the place where all those Gossip Stone showed up, right?" Another short guy, who wore cracked glasses, said. "So, I take we have another would-be hero?"

"Nah. Just a would-be scholar," Link answered. He continued, not even seeing a few of them raise their eyebrow at his response. "But yeah, we had a bunch of would-be heroes show up in my town last month. Surprisingly, the Gossip Stones haven't said anything about this kidnapping."

"Was that before or after you got kicked out of that school?" the storyteller asked, while a waitress took the other's orders.

"After. But the Gossip Stones really seem to like me for some reason. I keep bumping into them. Especially that one..."

"Hey, is it true that the Gossip Stone are from different...time...umm..." A burly man rubbed his beard, trying to think of the word.

"Timelines?" Link offered. "All the professors agree on that. I mean, there's no way these legends can be from one timeline. So far, they've been able to track 4 known timelines."

"And for some reason these stones from different worlds showed up in your town?"

"I know! Cool, right?"

"Hmm." Another burly man waved his hand down at Link. "Maybe you're our legendary Hero."

The group laughed, Link included.

"Can't be me. The Hero was amazing. He could do almost anything. Like he actually beat a couple of yetis in a sled competition!"

"You got that from a bunch of stones?"

"Not just Gossip Stones," Link carried on. "I mean, the university has history books from across our land. Not to mention a few decades ago, a group of Sheikah warriors visited Ordon." Link nodded his head. "My professors told me they all got pretty drunk one night and blabbed more than those Gossip Stones."

"Man, I'd paid good money to see that!"

"So, is that some of the secret stuff you were talking about?" the storyteller asked.

"What's secret stuff?" another one of his friends asked.

"Oh, the Gossips Stones love to talk and tell all, but there are some things they ask you to keep secret." Link smiled. "One of my professors said they're a pretty good judge of character and so they only tell certain people. The Gossip Stone usually go: "Hey, just between you and me." And then "Remember, this is a secret, don't tell anyone.""

"Then, shouldn't you...not be telling us this?"

"Hmmm," Link goes. "I guess I never thought about that. I mean," he started to rub his chin, "it's not like I'm telling you what the Stone actually said."

"You're kind of an idiot, aren't you?"

"My professors say that, too."

"So, what are some secrets?"

"No!" Link waved his hands. "One time I accidentally blabbed a minor secret and that Gossip Stone showed up in the middle of the night and kept me up by singing that 8th King song." Link shook his head. "That Gossip Stone is a horrible singer."

Speaking of horrible singers, a group men in green came in singing a rendition of one the Hero's tales. Link waved to them as they got their seats.

"Know them?" one the bigger men asked.

"I met some on the ride up here. I'm surprised there are this many would-be heroes here."

"I'm more surprised they haven't found the princess, yet," another guy said.

"Well, what do you expect?" a new voice joined the the conversation. "Some half-wit to show up one day and instantly find the princess?" the newcomer asked, sitting down.

"Hmm," the storyteller nodded towards the newcomer. "I guess you have a point, Sheik."

Link's jaw dropped. He had to blink a few times, trying to see if his eyes and ears were playing tricks on him. Nope. There was indeed a Sheikah, wearing a mask and turban, named Sheik sitting right in front him.

"Uhhh..." No one heard Link as the group's conversation was steered to a new topic. It gave Link time to think. Specifically to when that Gossip Stone told him one the biggest secrets kept amongst them. He remembered it quite clear:

"They say the Hero of Time was helped by a young Sheikah man," the Gossip Stone began.

"That's not a secret..." Link said.

"I'm not done, yet!"

Link hushed up and let the Gossip Stone continued.

"So, everyone knows about the Sheikah guide. That's no secret. But not everyone knows the Sheikah called himself 'Sheik', and that 'he' was actually Princess Zelda in disguise."

And Link remembered the feeling of shock, and also joy, at that moment. "That's amazing! How..." He also remembered he could barely speak for a moment because of his excitement. "This is so cool! How come this is a secret?"

"Because what if a Zelda needs to hide again? The Sheik disguise is the best. Trust me, you would never guess Sheik was Princess Zelda. Heck, you'd barely guess Sheik was a woman if you saw him...her...Eh, you get what I'm saying."

And with Sheik sitting right in front of him, Link did, indeed, see what that Gossip Stone meant. There was hardly anything feminine about Sheik. Definitely nothing princess-y. The princess. He felt astonished and filled with awe. Here was the princess, in disguise, hiding...

… Wait, hiding? What's she hiding from? And didn't people say they saw the princess get turned into stone? Then how Sheik could be here?

"Hey, Sheik, staying for lunch this time?" the storyteller asked.

"Sorry, Niko, I'm going to grab my food and head back to the theater. I'm setting up the special effects for the play tomorrow."

"Your special effects are the best, Sheik! I can't wait to see this show."

Just how could Sheik do it, Link wondered.

"Something wrong?" Sheik asked.

"Huh?" Link shook his head from his train of thought.

"You've been staring."

Had he? Oh, I guess he had.

Sheik rested her cheek on her palm. "What?" she asked, a little amused. "Is there something on my face?" She lightly tapped her fingers on her mask.

"Uhhh..."

The table got a chuckle out of it.

"He's cool," Niko said. "He's gonna crash at my place tonight."

"What?" one of the bigger men raised his voice. "It's my place, too. Don't you have to ask your roommate before you invite people over?"

"Do you?" Niko placed his hand on his chin and tilted his head. "Well, sorry, Gonzo. So, can Link spend the night at the apartment?"

Gonzo looked over Link and shrugged. "Yeah, it's fine."

Link gave a little laugh. "Thanks. So, umm," he turned his attention back to Sheik.

A waitress was handing a wrapped container to Sheik. Standing up, Sheik paid the waitress and started heading towards the door. "Later, guys."

"W-wait!" Link called out. Wow, she was fast. "I have to ask you som-Oof!" Link had the misfortune of tripping over his own feet in his shuffle to catch her before she left and landed flat on his face.

"Ouch, that's gotta hurt," winced Gonzo. The rest of the table agreed.

Link looked up and saw the Bar's door shutting close.

"Hey," the beefy looking man called the bartender over. "Can I get some milk for my coffee?"

To be continued.