Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda Series or its characters. I also do not own "Beauty and the Beast", "Les Miserables", or any other musical or piece of music mentioned in this story. This story is purely for entertainment purposes only.

Hello, everyone! Thank you again for your continued support! As always, please leave a review! I'd love to hear what you think! Enjoy chapter 11! ~Opal

Chapter 11: Friendship

Sally and I first went to Castle Town to ask people where they have seen monsters throughout Hyrule. The places that have alleged sightings are where we'd look first. We dismounted our horses and came into town, instantly greeted with murmurs and people staring. I walked by a couple of men that kept on staring at me, and then they looked at Sally, and then they whispered to one another. Could they be thinking…? Oh, please don't let them think that! The two of us kept on walking towards Telma's Bar, but we were stopped by a newsboy. "Ello, Sir Link!" He smiled. "I'd like to interview ya!"

"What about?" I asked. He didn't say a word, taking my arm and pulling me away from Sally. Sally stood there, not sure what to do. I shrugged and mouthed, "I'll be right back."

When we were far enough away from Sally for her not to hear he spoke up. "Who's the lady with ya? A lady friend?" He wiggled his eyebrows as he took out a notepad and feather pen. "Tell me the details!"

I slapped myself in the face. "No, we aren't an item, kid…" I rolled my eyes. "We are on a mission together to find some monsters that have been causing trouble in Hyrule."

"That's it?" He inquired, looking disappointed.

"Yes." I said. "That is it. There is nothing else I have to say." I started to walk back to Sally as the kid walked away from me. That's one thing that I hate, being pestered by people about my personal life because I'm a 'public figure'…No privacy, I swear!

"What was that all about?" She asked me as I came back up to her.

"Stupid newsboys…sent by adults to get news stories about people…" I put my hand to my face and shook my head out of frustration.

"What news story did they want to get out of you?" She queried.

I sighed. "That kid assumed that we were an item…"

Her eyes widened and she blinked twice. "Oh…" She looked away from me, and then down at the ground while I shuffled my feet awkwardly.

"Let's just forget about it and go to Telma's Bar." I suggested. "We can get lunch there."

"Sounds like a plan!" She smiled as we walked to Telma's Bar.

We walked inside and were almost immediately welcomed by Telma. "Hello, Link." She smiled. "And Sally? I didn't know you two knew each other?"

"Yeah. I know her because I've been on missions with Marcus." I said.

"Oh." She said with a nod. "I see…" She went to grab a couple of menus. She set them down on a table and we sat down. "Where is Marcus?" She looked at Sally.

Sally hesitated. "Um…well..." She looked a little upset.

I decided to speak for her. "Marcus and I were on a mission, and he was badly injured by a monster.

"Is he okay?" Telma questioned, turning her attention to me.

"He died…" I said. Sally looked down at her hands, and then at the table, not making eye contact with anyone.

Telma took Sally into an embrace. "I'm so sorry, sugar…"

Sally's expression was very sorrowful, but she didn't make a sound or shed a single tear. "Thanks, Telma…" She looked up at her.

Telma looked back at me. "Why are you two out and about together, if you don't mind me asking…?" She acted innocent, raising her hands while she shrugged.

"Sally and I are going to work together to avenge Marcus. We're going to find the monster and take care of it once and for all."

"Really?" She said, her eyes enlarging in surprise. Sally and I nodded. "Well, I wish the best of luck to the two of you." She walked away. Sally picked up her menu and started to look at it and I started to look at mine too.

It was very quiet between the two of us, and after moving myself to my left slightly I could see that she was crying silently from behind the menu. I looked at her sympathetically, picking up my napkin and offering it to her. She looked at me, apparently not expecting me to offer the napkin, and then finally took it. "Thanks, Link…" She wiped her tears. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't be crying like this…"

"It's alright." I said gently. "I understand. Don't be sorry for crying."

"Thank you…" She wiped a few more tears and then continued to look at her menu. There was another moment of silence, and then Sally spoke up again. "What are you going to order?"

"Not raw steak." I said plainly. She giggled slightly. At least I made her laugh!

"I remember how you drooled over that carcass!" She continued to laugh. "Taste buds changed, hmmm?"

"Yes, thank the goddesses…" I said with a chuckle.

"Yes, thank the goddesses." She echoed. "It would be a little odd for you to order raw meat again and consume it like a dog, since you're a human, of course."

"Yeah, I'd probably make everyone in the entire bar stare…" I chuckled again.

"That you likely would!" She laughed, looking at her menu once more. "I think I'll get some chicken pot pie."

"I'll do the pork loin with pasta." I said. "It'll be cooked, of course!" We both laughed.

Telma walked behind Sally as we were both laughing. She looked at me and winked. What the hell was that supposed to mean, Telma?! I looked in Telma's direction.

"Is everything alright?" Sally asked me.

I snapped out of it and shook my head. "Huh? Yeah…" I scratched my head.

Telma came back a couple minutes later. "Well? Have you decided on what you're going to order?"

I nodded. "I'll do the pork loin and pasta." Telma wrote it down on a notepad.

"I'll do the chicken pot pie." Sally said.

Telma wrote it down on the notepad. "Alrighty! Coming right up!" She walked away.

Sally and I started talking with one another again. We talked about quite a few things. She then looked at me with curiosity. "Do you like music, Link?"

"Yeah." I responded. "I'm not good at it, though. Not at all."

She smirked. "Have you ever tried?"

"Well…kind of…" I said. "I used to play my father's ocarina when he was still alive, but I was never good at that. And singing…I sound like a moblin regurgitating…"

"It couldn't possibly be that bad." She smiled.

"Oh, but it is." I laughed. "But you…" I pointed at her casually. "You're gifted with music."

She reddened out of flattery. "You really think so?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "You're very good at it."

She smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." I said.

We ate lunch and continued to get to know one another a little bit more. After lunch we went around town asking people about monster sightings. Surprisingly, there were a lot of them, and in a lot of areas around Hyrule. Sally and I eventually ran into Ashei near Malo Mart. She looked at me. "Hello, Link." She put her hands on her hips. "What have you been up to?" She looked at Sally. "Hmmm…Who's this?" She smiled conceitedly.

"This is a friend of one of my old comrades." I replied.

"Why is she with you?" She squinted her eyes questioningly.

"My comrade was killed by a monster, and to make a long story short, she and I are going to find this monster and kill it." I explained. "Her name is Sally."

Ashei put out her hand. "Sorry Sally...but I don't curtsy, although I'm sure you probably do."

"Actually, I don't." Sally answered with annoyance, her voice changing to a sarcastic tone. "Thanks for making that assumption about me, though. That's really considerate of you."

"Well I couldn't help it." She shrugged. "Seeing such a girly-girl walking around with the hero made me think otherwise."

"Girly-girl?" Sally gritted her teeth. "Excuse me?"

I got between the two of them. "Whoa now. Let's not start on the wrong foot, ladies."

"Oh! I see how it is!" Ashei said loudly. "You're in a relationship with this gal, aren't you?" She snickered. People started to crowd us.

"Sir Link is in a new relationship? So soon?" One man questioned out loud.

"It won't last!" A woman said.

"How sweet!" An older woman said. "He needs a lady in his life!"

"Say it ain't so!" A teenage girl whined.

"Um, you've got it all wr—" I started to say, feeling my cheeks flush.

Ashei interrupted. "Daaaaaaaaaamn, Link! She's gorgeous, but I'd think you'd have better taste in a woman!"

Sally began to get really irritated. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

She turned to Sally and began to count the reasons on her fingers. "You're not very adventurous. You come across as too naïve. And let's just say that blonde suits you. It is a hair color associated with ditzy women!"

"Well! Black must be a hair color associated with ignorant women!" Sally countered.

"I'm ignorant?" Ashei put her hands on her hips. "Have you looked in the mirror lately, missy?"

"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" The crowd that formed around us chanted.

"ASHEI!" I yelled, making both of the women jump, along with the rest of the crowd. "Can you put your foot in your mouth, please?!"

"Admit that you're in a relationship with her, as repulsive as it sounds!" She rolled her eyes.

"I'm not in a relationship with her!" I shouted. "I barely even know her!" People gasped, indistinct murmurs filling the air.

"He's lying, everyone!" Ashei cackled.

"SHUT UP!" Sally yelled at the top of her lungs. "Can't I get a word in edge-wise?" Everyone looked at Sally. She froze. "Um…uh…yeah, we are not in a relationship." She pointed at me. "I haven't even hugged this guy…you people really do jump to conclusions…" She sighed. "Can you leave him alone now? I don't think he wants to be bothered like this!" She looked at the crowd, and then at Ashei.

Ashei's expression became serious and she nodded at Sally. She faced the crowd once more. "You heard the lady!" she hollered. "Nothing to see here! Move along!"

The crowd finally dispersed. "Thanks, Sally." I said as I turned to her.

She looked at me and grinned. "Don't mention it."

I looked at Ashei. "Do you understand now?"

She nodded. "Yes. I do."

"What I am wondering is if you have seen any monsters lately?" I directed the question at Ashei. "If so, where did you see them?"

"Yeah. I've seen them." She said, "To be honest, it's a little bothersome." She put her finger to her chin in thought. "Let's see…I've seen them at Snowpeak, Lake Hylia…most of Hyrule, actually."

"Oh." I said. I looked at Sally. "I guess we have a lot of ground to cover."

She nodded. Ashei looked at the two of us. "I have to get going, but I wish you both the best of luck."

"Thank you." I responded.

"Thank you." Sally said.

Ashei left in the direction of the East Entrance and was soon out of sight. I looked at Sally, who was completely calm now, turning her attention to the surroundings and watching in silence. She seemed to take notice of the people, the ones that were chuckling, rushing past with goods, the children that still needed their mother's hand for guidance…I watched her for a moment as she watched them all with great attention, like she was an outsider longing to fit in with them. But all she could do was watch. There was a couple walking by while they held hands. She smiled at them briefly, but it was half-hearted…bittersweet. I knew she was still hurting; she tried to be strong, but because she lost Marcus so recently, that person that was so close to her heart, she seems a little disconnected from the rest of the world. I felt bad, but I didn't know what to do or what to say. "Sally?"

She turned towards me. "Yes?" She blinked as if coming out of a daydream.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready." She said. We started walking again.

"I figured we'd go to Lake Hylia first. It's pretty close to here." We headed out of the Southern Entrance and were on our way once more.