Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda Series or the Characters.
Hello, folks! Is this April Fools Day? NOPE! Chapter 23 is done and ready to read! Hooray! ^^
Thanks again for all of your support, and I hope you'll continue to enjoy my stories!
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Chapter 23: What is the Truth?
I opened my eyes to see dawn approaching, the sun barely peeking over the horizon, creating a beautiful swirl of colors in the distance. I took a moment to cherish the splendor, and then looked towards Sally, who was still fast asleep with her head against my shoulder. I considered moving, but that'd be rude, especially seeing her so peaceful. I took her hand and gently kissed it, and then set it back down on her lap. I care about Sally very much, she's the best thing that's ever happened to me! I would never want anything to happen to her. She inhaled through her mouth suddenly, as if she was gasping, and then she sneezed, opening her eyes slowly. "Gazunteit." I laughed.
She giggled. "Thanks. Good morning."
"Good morning." I grinned. "How did you sleep?"
"Very well." She nuzzled her head under my chin and I kissed her on the head. "You?"
"I slept well." I replied, kissing her on the cheek.
"I'm glad." She kissed me on the lips. She reached for her knapsack and opened it up, digging through it for something. "...Would you like to see the music that is for the Les Miserables musical? I've been really excited to look at it!"
"Sure." I sat closer to her, looking over her shoulder as she pulled the music out.
She thumbed through the pages until she got to a song called "In My Life." She pointed to the song with her finger. "I think I'll audition with this one. I really enjoy it."
I looked at it for a minute. "It seems interesting." I smirked. "Let's hear you sing it!"
"Um, there's a part for Cosette's Papa, AKA Jean Valjean." She looked at me and smirked back. "Who's going to sing that part?"
I blushed. "You know I can't! I can't sing!"
She pouted, making sure that I could see. "Not even you will help me practice!" She put her hand to her forehead and pretended to cry. "Oh, I feel so alone!"
With a moan I looked at the music again. "Fine. I'll sing Jean Valjean's part." Sally instantly smiled. "But none of this, and I mean none of this, will be mentioned to anyone else. Capiche?"
"Capiche." She held the music in front of us both. She began singing Cosette's part and chills went down my spine. She never ceases to amaze me with that voice! Wait! What if I mess up on my singing? It then came to Jean Valjean's part, and I started to sing, my voice cracking on some of the higher notes. Real smooth, Link! When we finished singing she laughed. "See?! Your singing doesn't sound like a moblin regurgitating!"
"But my voice..." I hung my head. "...cracked..."
"Only because you don't sing on a regular basis." She smiled. "You did well. Thanks for practicing with me." She hugged me tightly.
I beamed. "You're welcome." I took hold of her hand nearest to me. "I think you'll make a wonderful Cosette." I kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks, Link." She blushed, taking my hand and placing it on her cheek. "You're too kind to me..." She let go of my hand as she looked out in the distance.
"What's wrong, Sally?" I put my hand on hers, which was resting on her lap.
"Nothing. I've just been thinking...why did you choose me?" She smiled, but I saw that it was fading. "I feel so lucky...because you have done so many amazing things for Hyrule and beyond, and sometimes I think, 'why doesn't he go for the prettier girl? The one who's richer, more refined?' I sometimes think I don't deserve-"
"Don't think like that." I caressed her cheek, gently rubbing her skin with my thumb. "I chose you because you saw me for who I really am, not just as the hero like how most see me. You make me feel like myself again, and you're such a wonderful person. You make me smile whenever I see you."
She started to cry and I wrapped my arms around her, stroking her hair as she let out quiet sobs. "Thank you, Link." She muffled into my shoulder. "You make me happy, too. Whenever I'm sad or worried, you're always there to support me and tell me that everything's going to be okay." We kissed slowly and she continued to welcome my embrace. She pulled away and looked out towards the forest again, apparently deep in thought. "I need to confront mother...but...I'm scared." She looked at me.
"I don't want you to do it alone." I said. "I will come with you and confront her as well. We need to find out the truth."
She nodded. "Should we go now?"
"Sure, but only if you're ready."
She took a deep breath. "I'm ready."
We both set forth for Eldinaire Village, unsure of what was to come next, but determined to find out the truth and lay the qualms to rest. We came into the village late morning, and despite seeing people wide awake and working hard on their daily tasks, it felt empty and mysterious here. We went up to Sally's house and she knocked on the door. The door opened slowly to reveal Eleanor, who was in a black dress with a pink sash at the waist. Beyond her was darkness. From what I could see, all the drapes and curtains were shut, not allowing any sunlight through. "What are you doing here?" She raised a brow.
"I need to speak to mother." She said confidently.
She tapped her foot out of annoyance while rolling her eyes. "Where's your hero? Is he with you?"
"Yes. Link is here." She turned towards me and we exchanged smiles, and then I waved to Eleanor, who stuck out her tongue.
"Fine." She grunted. "I suppose you can speak with mother." She shut the door in our faces. "MOTHER!" She shouted. "OH, MOTHER?!"
"Dear, the WHOLE WORLD CAN HEAR YOU! WHAT?!" Sally's stepmother roared.
Eleanor sighed. "Sally would like to speak with you. Link is here as well."
"Fine. Let them in." She replied calmly. "They can sit on the living room couch and wait for me."
Eleanor opened the door and spoke monotonously. "You heard her. Go sit."
We both walked to the couch and sat down. I scratched my head while Sally attempted to smoothen her dress, a plain but pretty cream-colored sundress. Eleanor sat down in one of the two chairs sitting across from us, and then came in the snake herself, her nails the color green this time to match her green-satin dress. Come to think of it, both she and Eleanor looked a little too dressed up to be just hanging out inside of the house. At this point I was glad I had my sword and shield on my back, just in case. Sally's stepmother sat in the chair next to Eleanor with poise, as if she had been practicing for hours on end to get it right. "Now," She spoke. "What do you need to speak to me about, Sally?"
"First off, where's Papa?" She answered almost immediately and without thought.
"He is sleeping." She answered. "He was on a mission yesterday and is very tired.
Sally had her hands resting on her legs, slowly clenching her fists in hesitation. I put my hand on hers and looked at her, giving her a nod. She nodded in return, looking back towards her stepmother. "Tell me, mother..." She began to anger. "Were you or were you not a part of the plot to wreak havoc in Hyrule by using monsters?"
"Of course I wasn't, dear." She said. "Who could have possibly given you this idea?" She looked towards me. "Surely it wasn't Link."
Sally's eyes widened. "So what if it was!" I spat. "Despite what you may believe, I didn't give her this idea."
"Relax, Sir Link." She countered. "No need to get hostile with me."
"I know you don't like me; it's no secret." I answered. "And you know what? I don't like you, either, and I think you're lying."
"Really?" She said with surprise. "And what makes you think that?"
"The way you behave, and the way you treat Sally." I glared at her.
"I don't treat Sally poorly. I am merely honest with her." She smiled. Sally looked down at her hands, her fists clenched even tighter now.
"That's bullshit!" I shouted. "Tell the truth, you malignant bitch!"
"How dare you act so heinously towards me?!" She yelled.
"You accuse me of being evil?!" I hollered, standing up. "Have you looked in the mirror lately?! Or did it crack upon seeing the truth behind the satin and pearls?!"
"You are speaking out of line!" She gasped. "I urge you to stop!"
"Why should I?!" I clenched my fists, and then gestured towards Sally. "Look at your stepdaughter...she has done so much for you, she has suffered for you, essentially being your slave! And what have you done to show appreciation? Nothing! In fact, you put her down and constantly tell her how worthless you think she is! Put yourself in her shoes, if that's even possible!" My eye twitched in frustration. "She is the most talented, kindest, humblest woman I have ever met, tell me how that is worthless!" She didn't respond, so I looked her straight in the eye. "Tell me!"
"Link, that is enough." A voice spoke from the hallway. It was Curtis. He came out slowly, looking towards Sally and I with solemn eyes. "I need to talk to the two of you."
"Would you like me to join in the conversation, dear?" Sally's stepmother said innocently.
"No. If you don't mind, hun, I need to talk to them alone." He said, turning towards her and giving her a half-hearted smile.
"What about me, father?" Eleanor had her hands on her hips.
"No, Eleanor." He said plainly. He looked towards us again. "Come with me."
We stood up and walked behind Curtis. We left the house and started walking silently through the village. I looked over towards Sally, who looked worried, so I took her hand and held it as we walked. She looked at me and smiled slightly. I smiled in return, although deep down inside I knew something was wrong; she wasn't the only one worrying. We went into the woods and came to a clearning with grass and daisies. He and I sat down in the grass and Sally sat on her knees. He didn't say anything at first, instead he looked around him, as if struggling to find words. I decided to break the silence. "Why did you need to talk to us, Curtis?"
He looked down. "Link...the way you spoke to my wife..." I bit my lip. "I'm in for it." I thought. "...Was disgraceful..."
I hung my head in shame. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
"That was enough to appal me..." He sighed. "...But you took it a step further by accusing her of treating Sally poorly and taking part in the ambush of monsters..."
"Papa, if you'd please listen, there's justification for why Link-" Sally spoke up.
"I don't want to hear it." He said. "There is no justification for Link's behavior, except that he doesn't like my wife, and that he's gotten too involved in our lives."
"I'm so sorry, sir." I said. "I wasn't thinking, I allowed myself to get too carried away..."
"Speaking of which..." He sighed. "...The other issue I need to speak of regarding the two of you..." He looked up at us both. "...I...I'm at a loss for words..." He looked at me. "When I allowed Sally to go with you to avenge Marcus, I...I never imagined...that you two would end up having such strong feelings for one another..."
"I assure you, Papa, Link has done nothing but treat me with respect and protect me! We may be dating, but he has always been very kind and hasn't done anything to make me distrust him!" Sally was beginning to look visibly upset.
"I care about your daughter very much, I would never do anything to harm her." I added.
"I'm sorry to do this, but I believe it is in Sally's best interest..." He took a deep breath. "...To separate the two of you..."
"What?!" Sally gasped. "But Papa, why?!" I was at a loss for words.
"I trust Link to protect you, but now that I know that you two are more than friends, I feel the need to separate the two of you. I don't want you to start behaving rudely towards your mother, and he is now posing a bad influence."
"Bad influence?!" She hollered out of shock.
"And most of all, I don't want you to do something you'll regret later...you know what I mean, Sally..." He said. "...And I'm sure Link has an idea of what I speak of as well."
"I understand." Is all I could get out.
"So you don't trust me?!" She yelled, the cracking in her voice showing that she was on the verge of tears. "Is that what it is, Papa?!"
"It is not that." He said. "I feel things have gone too far...so this is what I must do."
"Papa, please listen to me!" She whispered with intensity.
"I have made up my mind. You two are never allowed to speak to each other again, and if I catch the two of you anywhere near one another, I will take further disciplinary action..."
"PAPA! THIS ISN'T FAIR!" She argued.
"Okay." I said flatly, almost robotically. "I will not intrude on your lives anymore. I apologize." My heart felt like it was breaking...I didn't even know how to react...
"Say goodbye." He said to us. I stood up, but Sally did nothing. "...Sally?" Curtis questioned.
She stood up and started to hug me. I wrapped my arms around her for the last time and she began to cry into my shoulder. "Goodbye..." I whispered into her ear.
"Goodbye..." She cried. I let go and she ran back towards Eldinaire Village, not allowing Curtis to see or speak to her. Curtis and I only nodded to one another and went our separate ways.
Is it over? Of course not! Stay tuned for the next chapter! Coming soon! :)