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 18! ~Opal
Chapter 18: Interrogations
Sally's POV
I walked into my bedroom, only to see Eleanor. Okay, why is she in my room? I thought.
She was sitting on my bed with a forced smile on her face. "Sit with me, Sally." She said through clenched teeth.
I walked gingerly over to the bed and sat down next to her. "What's up?" I asked.
"...I just wanted to spend some quality time with my step sister." She still had that forced smile on her face, and I swear that I saw her twitch.
"Are you doing alright?" I questioned.
She was still grinning very strangely. "We need to talk..."
"Okay...?" I elongated the word.
"So..." She adjusted herself to get comfortable, bringing a leg up onto the bed and sitting on it. "...Tell me about Link." She was still beaming, and I saw her twitch for sure this time.
"What is there to know?" I shrugged.
Her left eye squinted slightly and her eyelid fluttered while her other eye remained wide open. Her attitude grew more cynical every second I looked at her. "There's a lot to know...so tell!" She said with an abrupt tone.
"Well..." I paused to think for a second. "...We spent some time hunting monsters and now we're good friends." I said calmly.
"...That's it?" She squirmed, obviously displeased with my response.
"Yeah, we unfortunately haven't found anything." I looked away from her, feeling her stare me down like some righteous authority-figure.
"Maybe..." Was all she managed to get out, her whole body beginning to convulse. Have I entered the twilight zone? I thought. "...Maybe..." She repeated herself, grabbing my attention. She frowned deeply, and now I was scared! She then grunted angrily, spewing her words at what felt like 100mph. "Maybe it's because you two were too busy finding each others' lips!" She literally spat at me, and I rubbed the saliva off my arm with my blanket. Gonna have to wash that...
I stared at her with confusion. "Really, Eleanor? Really?" I shook my head. "He and I would never do that!"
"Stay...away...from...my...man!" She threatened, pointing her index finger at me. "Or you will rue the day I find out the truth myself!"
I've entered the looney bin! I sighed. "Whatever...Your 'man' shall forever be yours." I replied sarcastically. Honestly, I felt disgusted at her fantasies with Link because I knew they'd never be compatible. She was still twitching and I somewhat pitied her, only because of how stupid she looked. "Maybe you should get some rest?" I suggested, taking her hand and leading her out of my room. "It would do you good." Actually it would do us both good, but I knew better than to say that aloud.
"Yes. Perhaps." She giggled uncomfortably as she shuffled to her room. With that finished I shut off my lantern and began to fall asleep.
Maybe you two were too busy finding each others' lips!
Eleanor's rage-driven outburst echoed in my mind. My eyes shot open as I sat up in my bed. I shook my head. "What does she know?! We don't even like each other like that!" I whispered to ease my mind. Just go to sleep, Sally; she's only trying to get your goat. I laid back down and closed my eyes, sleep overcoming my consciousness.
I woke up the next morning and put on a robe to cover my nightgown. I went over to the living room and saw Link sitting on the couch. "Morning." He said.
"G'morning." I answered.
"How did you sleep?" He looked at me.
"Good." I started to walk over to the basket of apples. I grabbed a ripe red one and began to eat from it.
Link stood up and grabbed an apple as well, but he picked a green granny smith. "I like these ones." He turned it in his hand and admired it. "They're a little tart, but good just the same."
"Agreed." I nodded while smiling.
He took a bite and looked out the window. I began to look out the window as well. The sun had barely begun to rise and flashed vibrant colors in the sky. "I'm curious..." He finally said as he turned to look at me. "Does part of you want to leave here and live on your own? I mean, you would get away from those materialistic slimeballs you call a stepmother and stepsister."
I giggled. "Yes, part of me wants to get as far away from them as possible; it's not like I enjoy how they treat me..." My eyes circled the room for a second as my smile faded. "...But I...I feel like I don't have any choice." I shook my head. "My father's so in love with that snake that he's too blind to see her flaws." I rolled my eyes. "He's fully aware of Eleanor's issues; he and I have even discussed them a time or two...but he always plays it off as her being a 'naturally mean-spirited person.'" Link gave me a "you've got to be kidding me" look. "I'm being serious. He doesn't pay attention to the fact that her attitude towards me is a learned behavior."
"It makes you upset, doesn't it?" He frowned.
"Oh, it makes me furious!" I huffed. "But what's the point?"
He put his hand on my shoulder. "No matter what...don't let her win; in fact, don't let either one of them win." He looked a little frustrated...not in me, but in them. "Only they can change their ways, you can't do it for them." He shrugged. "Obviously they don't see anything wrong with how they treat you...and therefore may not see a need to change, which is a shame..."
"I won't let them get to me." I said seriously. "I promise."
"I'm glad." He returned, taking another bite from his apple.
After I finished eating I grabbed some clothes from my room and took them to the bathroom. I then went back to the living room long enough to grab the hot water kettle from the fireplace. I glanced over at Link, who was also finished eating but was busy studying a map of Hyrule. I walked back to the bathroom without him noticing me. After shutting the door behind me I filled the bathtub with the hot water and took a bath.
Link's POV
I was studying the map of Hyrule and planning our next objective when a knock at the door interrupted my work. Since no one else was up and Sally was getting packed I went to go answer it. Outside of the door was Tilanya. "Oh! You two are back!" She flashed her teeth. "Did you guys finish the mission?"
"Actually, we haven't yet." I answered. "Sally wanted to check in with her dad and give him an update on how the mission's going."
"I trust it's going okay?" Her smile wavered.
"Oh no, it has…there's just a lot more questions than answers." I replied.
Tilanya came inside and we both saw Sally walk out of the bathroom in a bohemian-style dress and sandals. I stared at Sally for a moment and blushed. She looks good in anything. I shut my eyes and took in a breath. "There you are, Sal!" Tilanya shouted, moving me out of her way like a bulldozer and walking briskly to Sally.
"What am I, chopped liver?" I said in jest.
Sally laughed. "What's with the urgency, Tilanya?"
She started to pull at her arm. "We have to go! You have to come with me! Now!" She yelled.
Sally put her finger to her lips to shush her. "You're acting as if the sky is falling! What's up with you?!" She stared at Tilanya with bewilderment.
"It's Martha!" She groaned. "She's flaunting her good looks and stealing your limelight!" She tugged once more at Sally's arm, but Sally wouldn't budge. "What's wrong with you?! Don't tell me you're going to let her win! Come on, girl! I know you've got more spunk than that!"
"Why don't you give her some breathing room?" I suggested, trying to pry her off of Sally.
"NO!" She turned to me and screamed. I put my hand over her mouth to try to keep her quiet, but she just wouldn't take a hint. She moved my hand and began to explode. "She has to come NOW! Otherwise she won't get to be Belle and Martha will be Belle and the ENTIRE FABRIC OF THE UNIVERSE AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE TORN TO SHREDS!" She cried dramatically, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me. "TORN TO SHREDS, I TELL YOU!"
"It can't be that bad..." I said, noticing Eleanor coming out of her bedroom in a robe, a displeased look on her face. Great!
Eleanor had her head tilted back and cucumber slices resting on her eyes. She brought her hands up and removed the cucumbers as she tilted her head to a normal position. "Who was stupid enough to be so loud while I was trying to sleep?!" She saw Sally and screamed. "MOTHER! MOTHER! SALLY HAS RUDELY INTERRUPTED MY BEAUTY SLEEP!"
Tilanya looked at Eleanor and shook her head. "Girl, it's gonna take a lot more than sleep to make that face pretty!"
Eleanor looked at her and gasped, shaking her fist with rile. "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU WERE HERE, TEELAWNEEAA!"
"Oh, did I mess with her highness' beauty sleep?" She put her hands on her hips and grinned. "Good! I should come over more often!" She cackled.
Sally looked at me. "See what I deal with?" She mouthed. I nodded.
Eleanor put up a pair of fists. "You wanna fight? I'll fight you! I'm p-ohed now!"
Tilanya laughed. "I can knock you out in ten seconds, 'beauty queen!'"
Unfortunately, instead of Curtis being the next to emerge from a bedroom, for he had left earlier that morning on a mission, it was Sally's Stepmother. "Sally, Eleanor..." She said quietly but sternly. "Come with me to Eleanor's room. We shall speak further in there..." She glared at Tilanya and me.
As Sally solemnly walked away from us Tilanya grabbed her arm. "I'm soooo sorry, girl! I didn't mean for it to end up like this!" She whispered apologetically.
Sally nodded as she shuffled her feet in Eleanor's direction. I grabbed Sally's hand and whispered in her ear. "Remember what I told you...don't let them gain the upper-hand." She nodded and turned away, walking into Eleanor's room.
When the three of them were in the bedroom, Sally's stepmother shut the door lightly. Tilanya pointed her finger at me. "Now, what was that secretive stuff all about? You didn't have to whisper in her ear!" She put her hand to her mouth. "Wait! Is there something going on between you two!?"
I reddened. "No!" I hissed, then calmed down, muttering the words "I wish..."
She pointed at me again, this time with shock on her face. "Did you just say what I thought you just said?!"
I tried to backtrack. "W-what do you mean? S-say what?"
"That you 'wished' there was something going on between you and Sally?" She smiled widely, trying to contain her intense glee.
"Clean out your ears! I-I didn't s-say that! N-not at all!" I struggled to sound convincing. Might the cat be out of the bag?
"You like Sally, don'tcha?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
"No!" I argued.
"DAAAAWWW!" She squealed. "Quit being so modest, hero!"
"I have a name." I grunted.
"Right. Link." She smiled. "Better?"
"Yes." I said.
"Now, will you tell me the truth?" She pressed the issue. "The cat's out of the bag." Question answered...
"Okay. It's true...she's just..." I bit my lip and stared at her. "You won't say a word to Sally, right? Otherwise I will get my revenge."
She moaned. "Fine!" She said, "I won't...as long as you ask her out...Oh, it'll be soooo cute!" She giggled.
"I will, if I ever get the courage..." I sighed. I didn't really plan on it, I mean, why would she like me? She is still heartbroken from the loss of Marcus...
"Good!" She said contentedly. "Now, tell me more of what you were saying before!" She smiled. "About why you like my bestie!"
"I just...She's not like other girls." I said, unsure of what to say next. I looked at her, noticing her hands clasped together in front of her out of anxiousness, all while being starry-eyed with her mouth wide open. "...This is awkward..."
"Shut up and tell me more!" She beamed.
"Okay! Okay!" I put up my hands and gestured for her to calm down. "...Sally just...she doesn't obsess over me like other girls do...she treats me like a normal human-being...nothing special..." I blushed.
She didn't seem to get it, because she looked at me like I was speaking Chinese. "...And that's a good thing?"
"A very good thing." I said.
She nodded. "Okay...I get it. But..." She looked mischievously at me. "...There's got to be another reason why you like her!"
"Well...she's pretty...and she has a wonderful singing voice...and she's just a really good person..." I scratched my head.
"Quit beating around the bush and ask her out, you idiot!" She laughed.
My face reddened more. "She wouldn't like-"
"Don't make assumptions!" She argued. You never know! Maybe she'd like to date you!"
"...I'm starting to regret telling you..." I mumbled.
"Too late to go back now!" She tittered. "No worries. I won't tell Sally."
"You sure it won't slip your tongue?" I asked.
"Positive. That would ruin the surprise!" She giggled.
"I didn't say for sure whether I was going to-"
"Oh, yes you will! You'll see!" She said with confidence.
Something about that comment scares me...I think it's the "you'll see…" I thought to myself. A moment later Eleanor's bedroom door opened and out walked Eleanor, Sally's stepmother, and then finally Sally.