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 20! ~Opal
Chapter 20: Delays
Sally and I decided we'd go into town again to get some more food and other supplies, and we drew a lot of attention! Figures, I'm seen as some superhuman and no one will leave me alone!
"Look!" A man shouted. "Sir Link is back in town!"
"That he is; and he's still hanging out with that lady!" A woman in a purple dress snorted. "Hmph! Wonder what's up with that!?"
The people started to crowd Sally and I despite us trying to walk nonchalantly and avoid excess attention. Many of them spoke together excitedly, wanting to ask us both questions. The only problem with that was they were talking over the top of each other, making everything they said nothing but noise. "Okay!" I hollered, raising up my index finger. "One at a time, please! I can't understand any of you!"
"What's your current mission?" A man yelled while he jumped up and down and waved his hands.
Another man pushed him out of his way. "Why are you with this girl?!" He pointed at Sally.
"How did you meet and befriend Sir Link?" A lady asked Sally.
"Um..." I began.
"Uh..." Sally uttered.
"Tell me the secret to your gorgeous complexion!" A woman with red hair and freckles begged Sally. Soon all their inquiries began to mix together again, the plethora of voices sounding like chattering chipmunks. Two women started to fight to speak while a man attempted to intervene, being promptly punched in the face.
The townspeople continued to bicker as Sally and I stood there in shock. Finally a familiar voice rang above the crowd. "SHUT UP, PEOPLE! WHAT'S WITH ALL THE HUBBUB?!"
"Oh, no..." Sally said quietly.
"What's wrong?" I questioned while turning to her.
"It's Mar-" She began. Martha pushed her way through the crowd, grunting in effort to move people out of her way. Once she looked up and saw us her mouth hung wide open.
She rubbed her eyes with her hands, her mouth still agape. "Do my eyes deceive me, or is the Hero really standing next to that...that...that..."
"C'mon, Martha!" Sally giggled. "Don't tell me you've forgotten my name!" She turned to me and winked, and I winked and chuckled in return.
Martha looked at me, her expression that of someone who is feeling light-headed. "W-why...S-sir Li-Link..." She stammered. "C-care to t-tell...m-me why you are w-with S-Sal-Sal-Saaallllllyyyy?" She then fainted, making the crowd gasp. They looked at Sally and me with confused expressions.
"Don't look at us." I said. "We didn't make her faint."
"Technically you did." A man said, crossing his arms. He looked oddly familiar, kind of like Mutoh, who is from a family of stubborn people whose sons have been named Mutoh throughout the generations. Finally he scoffed. Yep, it's definitely him! "It was in reaction to seeing you with this lady." He rolled his eyes. "So, what are you going to do, Hero? KAHAAA!" He let out his famous otherworldly cackle.
"Um..." I said, turning to Sally as she shuddered. "What's wrong?" I mouthed.
"He's weird." She mouthed back.
Ya think? I sighed and nodded. "Well?" He grunted impatiently. "We're all waiting for an answer!"
"I'm not going to do anything." I replied. "I don't truly know her, and quite frankly, she is very annoying."
"Hold up!" A woman shouted. "That's so unlike you! Isn't it your duty to assist ALL people in need?!" She placed her hands on her hips.
"You have a point." I sighed. "I will take her back to the House of the Arts." The people continued to talk and attempt to ask Sally and I questions. I grunted. "Neither one of us are obligated to answer your questions. Good day." Sally and I began to walk and the crowd slowly moved out of the way, muttering to one another as we left with Martha in my arms. When we were far enough away from them I turned to Sally. "I swear if Martha wakes up and demands that I kiss her or something I'm going to throw her in a pile of cow manure!"
Sally laughed. "It's not like she wouldn't deserve it!"
"As badly as she's treated you? I'd totally agree!" I looked towards her and saw her smile, her eyes seeming to sparkle in the afternoon sun. I haven't known her long, but she's so welcoming...like a cool summer breeze. It feels like I've known her forever. We walked over to the theatre talking and laughing. We headed in and were noticed immediately. Gasps and shouts filled the room...not because Martha was unconscious, but because...
"Sir Link is here!?" A girl shrieked.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!" A teenage girl yelled. "It's him! In the flesh!" She put her hand to her forehead. "Oh, I may faint!" She sighed and allowed herself to fall onto the carpet lining the aisles of the theatre. People stared at her for a moment, strangely fixated on her body laying on the ground and not the reason behind it.
"What, never seen someone faint before?" I said aloud.
Their heads all jerked to face Sally and me. To be honest, it was kind of creepy! They all stared at us as their jaws dropped, not uttering a single word. They began to walk in our direction and surround us like hungry buzzards. "Hahaha..." Sally chuckled nervously. "I guess you draw attention easily, Mr. Hero?" She looked at me while smiling half-heartedly.
I looked at the people surrounding us, and then at Sally. "Haha...I guess I do..."
Some woman in the theatre finally snapped out of it and spoke out. "Why did you bring Martha unconscious?"
"She fainted when she saw me." I said.
"...And me..." Sally stepped out from behind me. They all gasped.
"...Wait...Sally?" the same woman said. "...Are you and the Hero...d-d-d-da-dat..." She couldn't finish the word.
"Dating. She meant to say dating." A little girl said with a smile, holding a stuffed animal that looked like a unicorn.
"No." Sally and I said at the same time. We both covered our mouths.
"Couples Telepathy!" A man in overalls grinned.
The woman next to him slapped him. "Quit making things up!"
He smiled at her. "What? And you thought me telling you that you were the most beautiful woman in the room was a fact?" He looked at another woman in the room, waved to her, and then made a kissy face and winked. She waved back.
The woman shrieked. "Why, I NEVER!" They both began to bicker, and the rest of the room started shouting.
"That's enough, everybody!" Mr. Cathbird, the director, yelled. They all looked at him. "Now," He cleared his throat. "If Sir Link and Sally would like to explain, they may, but if they would rather not it is their business."
I didn't know what to tell them...but I knew it would leak out eventually that we have a relationship going. Sally spoke up. "We're-"
"We're dating." I broke her off, taking her hand. "Sally and I are dating." I repeated.
She looked at me with surprise. "You sure you want them to know?" She asked me.
"It's too late now." I replied while smiling at her. She smiled back.
"You are dating?" The dishonest and flirtatious man said with surprise.
"Yes." I said to him.
"Wait 'till the rest of town hears about this!" A woman shouted. "I mean, Sir Link dating Miss Sally?" It seemed that Sally and I both expected her to laugh or mock us in some sort of way. "It's SO ADORABLE!" We both looked up in shock.
The rest of them responded by asking us questions, such as "how did you meet?", "how long have you known each other?", and "when and why did you decide to be more than friends?" We both felt a little overwhelmed, unable to come up with answers. Thankfully they were interrupted by a moan coming from Martha. A young man knelt by her side. "What is the matter, Martha? Are you alright?"
"I..." She rubbed her forehead. "...I had the strangest dream...Sir Link was in town and associating himself with Sally..." She laughed like she was in a daze. "Silly me...that would never happen!"
"Funny you should mention that!" He laughed. "Sir Link is here, and he's just told everyone that he and Sally are dating! Who would've thought!" He put his hands on his hips and chuckled heartily. "Honestly I think they make a lovely couple!"
"How charming..." Martha said dreamily. She then shook her head. "Wait! WHAT?!" She screamed.
"Are you deaf?" An old woman screeched. "They are dating!"
Martha began to cry, actually cry. I never thought she was capable of expressing any other emotion besides anger and selfishness. (Well, unless she was acting, I suppose...)
"Well, this is quite a surprise." Mr. Cathbird said. He looked at Sally. "I heard that you two met in Eldinaire, and after Marcus was killed by a mysterious monster you two set out on a mission to avenge him?"
"Yes. That is correct." Sally nodded.
"How is it going?" He questioned. "Have you found the monster and killed it?"
"Sadly, no." She said.
"Right now we are working together to figure out why there are so many monsters in Hyrule." I added.
"Hmmm..." He scratched his beard. "There has been an increase in sightings, that is true...So tell me, are you in town to get supplies?"
"Yes." I said. "Then we are going to the City in the Sky."
"I'm guessing you won't be staying long?" We both nodded. He looked at Sally and shrugged. "Unfortunately you have missed too many rehearsals for 'Beauty and the Beast,' so we gave the part of Belle to Martha by default."
"Hmmm!" Martha hummed contentedly. "Guess the part went to the proper lady!" She then giggled annoyingly.
Sally just ignored Martha. "That is fine."
Tilanya broke through the crowd. "Quit lying, Sally!" She looked at Mr. Cathbird in despair. "It isn't fair, Mr. Cathbird!"
"Tilanya..." Sally faced her. "It's okay."
"There will be other opportunities." Mr. Cathbird continued. "...We do have auditions for 'Les Miserables' coming up soon. Would you like to have a copy of the sheet music to study?"
"Sure. Sounds good." She smiled. He handed her the music and she took it in both hands, nodding to him in appreciation.
"Good luck, and stay safe." He looked at us. "Both of you."