A/N: Alrighty then. I'm back. Woot. So I hope everyone had an awesome holiday. And a Happy New Year. 2006 already, yes? Amazing, isn't it?

So anyway, thanks for the reviews of my last oh-so-short-and-crappy chapter. This one, and I digress to say, is a bit on the shorter side, too. Ah, oh well. I can't please everyone, I guess. I just have very little time to spend writing now, since I'm working on other stuff besides fan fiction. I'm actually working on a novel right now, and I hope it's going to be good. Heh.

Whatever. I know you don't care about that, so let's get on with this, shall we?

Worth Fighting For

--

"Miss Harkinian, please slow down!"

Zelda's face gleamed with delight as she weaved quickly through a mass of bodies, not pausing to wait for her caretaker, Impa, who trudged far behind, carrying some of the girl's heavy luggage along with other attendants.

"Miss Harkinian-"

Impa lost sight of the girl on the docks, stopping and sighing. The huge clusters of people, watching and waiting for the destroyer's arrival, were overwhelmingly placed about, talking and laughing with each other. The attendants bumped into her, halting, clucking their tongues in condemnation at Zelda's disappearance. Impa, aggravated, tucked a piece of her graying hair behind an ear, groaning in annoyance with the girl's behavior.

"Can't take your eyes off 'em for a minute, Miss Impa," alleged a fellow assistant, setting down a particularly large piece of baggage, floral in style.

Nodding, the woman exhaled before breathing in deep, rolling her eyes.

-

Blue eyes shining happily, Zelda glanced from side to side, observing each face and building carefully along the docks. Turning her head, she no longer saw her six attendants behind her, and she smiled. Coming to a stop, she thought for a moment, then went left, to a railing that stood guarding man from sea. She leaned against it, watching the water ripple and crash into the posts below the decking. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the salty air, grinning in contentment. She was finally going away; seeing the outside world for the first time, and she couldn't believe it. Staring up into the endless, blue sky, she waited, until she saw the faint outline of a ship on the horizon. Thinking of her father, she placed her hands along the rail, standing thoughtfully.

Just a few days before, she had been offered this experience, and she couldn't have been happier. She still felt a small tug of guilt for leaving her mother behind, alone in the mansion, though the woman hadn't minded.

"If it makes you happy, Zelda," she had heard her say, lips turning upward into a smile at the memory, "you may go. I will be fine. Be careful. I love you so, so much, dear."

Zelda had also learned the man's name from the day she was called into her father's office. It was Charles, though the girl had already dubbed him as 'Charlie,' just for now. He was a soldier who would be sailing aboard the destroyer, getting a ride from New York to the tip of Italy. He was quite the gentleman, and had befriended the girl in no time, promising her that she would meet his friends on the ship in the later days.

Talking had died down on the docks, and soft murmurs went round from group to group of the destroyer's approach in the distant waters. Zelda gazed out upon the ocean, heart fluttering within her chest. She tore her eyes off the water only for a moment as she felt a hand fall upon her shoulder.

"Here it comes, Miss Harkinian. Just wait," Charlie's face beamed proudly down at her, his short, brown hair barely moving from the wind. "Oh," he started, grinning mischievously, "Your attendant, Impa, is looking for you. She said that, and I quote, 'That girl is as good as dead when I find her, mark my words,'"

Zelda shrugged, embarrassed, as she looked back to the sea. "Alright, Charlie. You'd better bring me back to her before I get into more trouble."

Nodding, he took her hand, starting to walk back. Zelda turned after him, checking back ever so often on the ship that was almost upon the docks, amazed at its size.

"Miss Harkinian!"

Zelda heard Impa's cry, and she started to laugh. Charlie watched her, thoughtful, as Impa rushed over to the girl's side.

"Oh my goodness, child, are you alright? We've been worried sick, Zelda! Don't just run off like that! You're lucky we lied to your father as to your whereabouts, Zelda! He would've been furious-"

Zelda smirked, knowingly, and walked away with Impa's hand locked to her arm, waving at a confused Charlie as she turned around. Calling over her shoulder, she grinned.

"I'll see you soon, Charles!"

--

Well? How was that? Not too incredibly short, but short none-the-less.

I liked it, I guess. It got the plot moving along, so yea. Charlie's adorable. He's a character of mine; in fact, probably one of many OC's in this story. Don't worry, though, this is a Zelink. It may not seem like it now, but you just wait. ;)

Well, that's all, folks. See you soon. Later.

-KH