A/N: So here it is, my first fanfic since 'The Project'. I've been working on this one on and off for a long time now. I hope to have the second chapter up before next weekend.

I'd love to hear what you think so please review!

Silverpistola

Chapter 1 - Journey Over Sea

The deck was tranquil and the sea air filled her lungs as she leaned against the railing in solitude. As they approached the island, the water had progressively lightened in colour until it was the pale, crystalline turquoise that she was gazing down into now. A breeze wound through her hair and the sun kissed the bare skin of her shoulders and collarbone. She sighed, blissfully. A get-away was exactly what she needed.

Midna joined her, silently.

"It's so beautiful here," Zelda murmured, biting back a radiant smile.

"Peaceful," Midna agreed. She was one of few words, but had a playful side to her. Zelda could think of no one better to go on holiday with, well, except for-

"Lookie there," Midna mumbled, the corners of her lips quirking upwards.

Zelda glanced across the deck in time to see Link Hero emerging from the ship restaurant and onto the deck, closely followed by his younger brother, Colin. Immediately, Zelda blushed and turned away.

"And no Miss Ilia in sight," Midna observed.

"I don't care," Zelda snapped.

Midna laughed, softly. "Yes you do."

Midna turned her dark eyes to glance back at Link again. He had sat down on a lounger and already there was an open book in his lap. Yet his eyes were not on the pages. Colin was stood watching the waves nearby.

"Link, look!" Colin exclaimed, "I can see the island!"

Link's eyes followed the direction of his brother's pointing hand and he got his first glimpse of Mercay Island. Colin bounced on the balls of his feet, positively quivering with excitement.

"This is gonna be great, isn't it?" Colin asked, grinning eagerly.

Link allowed his gaze to shift to the girls on the other side of the deck. Or, in particular, one of the girls; the girl whose presence he had noticed immediately.

Colin wasn't looking for a reply, but Link nodded anyway.

"Dear, sweet cousin?"

Zelda looked up from her seat and saw Sheik, her slightly older and highly scandalous cousin standing over her. He was smiling, revealing a perfect set of pearly whites that contrasted beautifully with his olive-tanned skin. His scarlet eyes were bright with an intimidating sparkle and he sat down, conspiratorially, in the seat Zelda's mother had just vacated.

"What do you want Sheik?" Zelda asked with a sigh. Beside her, Midna sipped her water and watched Sheik, expectantly.

"Now what sort of way is that to greet your penniless prince of a cousin?" Sheik scolded her, wagging his finger.

Across the ships' restaurant all heads turned as Zelda's parents walked towards the doors. Only moments ago a shipmate had announced that they would be reaching Mercay Island within the next twenty minutes.

"Hello Sheik," Zelda drawled. "You remember Midna?"

Sheik appraised the Twilight Princess and she glared back.

"How could I forget," Sheik answered, coolly.

"I'm afraid I'd quite forgotten about you, penniless prince," Midna muttered, darkly, before rising to her feet.

"What's eating her?" Sheik asked, frowning.

Zelda shrugged. "She's always like that. Anyway, what are you after Sheik? And if it's an in with Midna you can forget it," she added, quickly.

Sheik shook his head, the famous lopsided grin quickly returning to his lips. "Almost on the money then, fair cousin of mine. No, no, I only wished to enquire about another Princess."

Zelda's eyes followed his gaze, even though she could have guessed who he meant without having to look. Princess Lulu was waiting patiently beside her Mother, Queen Rutella, holding the hand of her younger brother, the darling of the family, Prince Ralis.

"Oh I should've known," Zelda commented, dryly.

"It's been a while since I've seen the Zora royals, but Princess Lulu, well, she certainly doesn't disappoint. And she's probably the second most eligible royal, after yourself, of course, Zellie. And I'm not saying you're not beautiful," Sheik prattled on, grinning inanely, "but I think it would be illegal, so I guess I'll just have to settle for the second hottest Princess."

"Flattery will get you nowhere Sheik," Zelda answered, picking up her purse and getting up.

"I have it on good authority that you happen to be quite friendly with her," Sheik pressed, falling into step beside her.

"Well, I could hardly ignore her at a million and one royal picnics, could I? If you ever showed up Sheik, you might be a little more acquainted with her yourself," Zelda told him, quickening her step, slightly.

But Sheik wasn't to be dissuaded.

"Oh Zellie, you know I don't go for all that society stuff."

"But you won't pass up a free vacation?" Zelda shot back, quirking a brow.

"All I need is a good word. Just drop me into casual girly conversation," Sheik pleaded.

Together they emerged onto the deck. The island was close enough to swim to and Zelda could see the busy dock teeming with yachts and fishing boats. Her parents were stood, her Father's arm around her Mother's shoulders, looking out across the water together and there, further along the deck, was Link. Now alone, his back was arched, his elbows rested on the railings, his chin was cupped in his hands and the sun had taken up residence in his golden hair. Zelda felt a painful pang in her heart.

"Or how about a trade off?" Sheik suggested, softly. "You hook me up with Lulu and I'll see to Captain Clueless over there."

Zelda's eyes snapped back to Sheik's face. "Don't cause trouble and I'll talk you up," she murmured. "I don't want anything to mess this vacation up for my folks. It's important to them."

Sheik stuck out his hand and they shook on it.

"You sure you don't want me to help you out?" Sheik offered, his voice softening.

Zelda shook her head. "Don't waste your breath."

The restaurant had quickly emptied as people rushed to gather their luggage from their cabins. Midna, however, had not budged from her seat at the bar. She was sipping a sea breeze and enjoying the relative silence as the bar staff cleared the tables. Zelda had disappeared with Sheik, both of whom 

would have to accompany Zelda's parents to the hotel for photos. The press might even ask where the elusive Twilight Princess was, but she doubted her absence would cause too much surprise.

Just as she was about to coax a bartender into serving her another sea breeze, a small figure appeared in the doorway to the restaurant. Midna cocked her head to the side and squinted slightly before she recognized the little Zora Princess. The girl looked slightly frantic as she ran across the room to the table where her family had been sat. She dropped to her knees and crawled under the table.

"Isn't that Princess Ruto?" The bartender asked one of the other bar staff. "Shouldn't she be on the beach with the rest of the royals?"

Midna frowned. The girl could only be around twelve years old. Unlike herself, Princess Ruto would definitely be missed at the photo shoot.

"Don't worry," Midna found herself speaking up as she elegantly slid off her barstool, "I'll take her with me."

The bartender nodded, gratefully. "Thank you, Your Highness."

The girl was still under the table when Midna lifted up the tablecloth and found her clutching something to her chest.

"You lose something?"

Ruto looked up, startled. "My locket."

She held out her hand as if to prove it. Enclosed in her hand had been a small, silver shell locket studded with, as far as Midna's expert eyes could tell, an array of sapphires and opals. Midna held out her hand to her as Ruto slipped the chain around her neck.

"They'll freak out if they realise you're gone, you know," She told her as the little Princess slipped her hand into hers.

"I'm sorry," she stammered, clambering to her feet.

"Don't be sorry," Midna answered, beckoning her to follow her out onto the deck.

The sun hit Midna full in the face and she squinted again. The deck was clear. She wandered over to the walkway that led down onto the dock.

"They went onto the beach," Ruto told her, still holding onto her hand.

"For photos. Right."

Ruto gazed up at her with eyes so dark they were almost black. Ruto, like all the Zora people, had skin as pale as moonlight with a slightly blue hue. Her hair was inky black and fell down to her shoulders and Midna could tell that her face had the potential of incredible beauty once she hit her later teens. Perhaps her beauty would eventually outstrip that of her elder sisters'. For now though she had to settle with being cute.

"Aren't you supposed to be having your picture taken too?" Ruto asked.

"I don't like having my picture taken," Midna told her, honestly. "Does your Mother know where you are?"

Ruto shook her head. Midna sighed.

"They won't miss me," Ruto murmured. Midna couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. A self-pitying whiny royal was even worse than a spoilt one.

"Don't be stupid," Midna snapped. "C'mon."

And she dragged the girl towards the direction of the flashing lights.

Zelda still hadn't managed to get rid of Sheik by the time the press had gotten their photos. Thankfully though, Link and his family had made their way to the hotel so she hadn't needed to feel self-conscious whilst posing, obediently, with her parents. As soon as the photographers began to pack up a tiny woman rushed forwards and sunk into a low bow before the crowd of royals.

"Your highnesses, I am Ciela Palm, granddaughter of Oshus Palm, the owner of this resort," she announced in a slightly squeaky voice.

At that moment Midna appeared holding onto the hand of Princess Ruto.

"Where have you been?" Zelda hissed.

"Babysitting," Midna muttered back as Ruto received a stern word from her Mother for wandering off.

"Ah, hello Ciela, how nice to meet you," Zelda's mother spoke, graciously.

"I am here to see to the needs of all of you. I have already seen to it that your agents," she beckoned to the royal security standing a precise twenty yards away and looking hot and uncomfortable in their suits, "have my contact details so that for any request, no matter how small, you may reach me immediately. It is, after all, our honour to host this very special vacation for all of you."

Queen Rutella looked bored and Ralis was kicking sand at his older sisters as Ciela gave her little speech. Even Zelda's Father stifled a yawn, but her Mother, gracious Queen as ever, listened with rapt attention.

"Why thank you Ciela. You know, this vacation really is very special," She explained, beckoning the others to follow as they made their way along the beach to the waiting car that would drive them the short way to the hotel. "My dearest Zelda will be leaving for University in only a matter of weeks, as will Princesses Lulu and Midna, not to mention my sweet nephew Sheik. It's at times like these when family time is most important."

Ciela nodded emphatically, jogging slightly to keep up with the brisk pace of the Queen.

"And then the idea hit me, a lovely vacation where all us parents might soak up the last weeks with our children before they leave us forever." The Queen smiled. "Or at least until Noel."

This, of course, included Link's family, since Queen Harkinian and Uli Hero had been friends since childhood and Link happened to be, like Zelda and the others, going off to Hyrule Royal University in the fall.

"What a marvellous idea, your Highness," Ciela simpered.

Oh yes, Zelda thought. Marvellous.