After a morning which seemed to have dragged on forever, Link was hastily stuffing various items of clothing into his travel sack. His head felt light from the drinks he brought for the guards, but he persisted in his vigour nonetheless. As he threw in his last tunic, a small black box which stood on his drawer leered at him.

"Take me with you!" it said, opening and shutting as it spoke.

Link stared at the box in horror, then rubbed his eyes, and glanced at it again.

"How much space can a little box take?" It carried on, "Besides, I posses the power which you are to afraid to use."

"I am not afraid!" Link snapped.

"Afraid of what?"

Link turned his head to the door, where Zelda was staring at him curiously.

"Afraid of... Chu Chus." Link smiled.

"Chu Chus?" Zelda repeated.

"Yes."

"Who were you talking to, anyway?" She asked.

"Myself, apparently..." He mumbled, "I might have a drink too many."

"Hmmm, well hurry up, we should be leaving soon." She said as she left the room.

"You know you want to take me!"

"Shut up!" Link shouted, "If I take you will you shut up?!"

The box didn't reply. The General sighed angrily and snatched the box up in his hands and stuffed them into his trouser pocket.

"As if I could ever do it..." He muttered as he slung his travel sack over his shoulder.

*******

"Look, I tacked the horses up!" Zelda announced proudly as Link entered the royal stables.

"Why?" He asked.

"I wanted to."

Link eyed her up in her blue travelling gear as he went over to Epona and stroked her mane.

"Let me just double check to be sure." He whispered.

He subtly walked around Epona, checking the girth of the saddle and the reins, then nodded to himself in satisfaction.

"You know I can look after a horse." Zelda called out, stroking her white stallion, "You're not the only horse rider in here."

Link adjusted his green tunic and smirked at her.

"Yeah, but I'm better."

"We are not going through this again." Zelda hissed.

"Your Majesties, shall I take your horses out?"

A stableman was standing at the entrance, looking at the two expectantly.

"Yes please." Zelda smiled as she walked out.

"Majesties?" Link repeated, staying with the stableman, "There is only one Queen."

The stableman shrugged and led the horses out of the stable, with Link following him.

"Just training myself." He said casually.

"Even he knows it."

"Oh, shut it you annoying little-"

Zelda and the stableman stared at Link quizzically.

"Fly." He finished, forcing a smile, "There was a fly buzzing around."

"Maybe this trip would do you some good, too." Zelda noted as she mounted her horse.

Link sighed and jumped atop Epona, adjusting himself in the saddle.

"Let's go!" He announced, urging Epona into a walk.

They rode out of the castle perimeters and into the town, then finally, into the lush, green fields of Hyrule.

"Its so calming." Link sighed.

As they rode on in silence, Link noticed a red spot on his chest.

"What the-"

The spot began to move and circle around his chest.

"Get out of here!" He shouted at Zelda, "There's a guardian-"

Zelda burst into a fit of laughter as she held a small device in her hands.

"Calm down, Link." She giggled, "Its just a laser."

She held up the device, which was decorated with traditional sheikah designs.

"Purah made it for me." She explained, "I don't really know what to do with it, though."

"Maybe don't use it to give me PTSD flashbacks." Link snapped.

"Huh?"

"I couldn't even walk through the field without a laser being pointed at me." He carried on, "and with that laser came immanent death."

"Link, have you ever taken acting classes when you were younger?" Zelda asked airily.

"No?"

"Just wondering..." She said with a cheeky smile.

Link couldn't help but smile. Seeing her smile always made his heart skip a beat, and to think that if everything went to plan, he'd have a whole lifetime of it.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, flicking her hair away.

"You're very beautiful." He said warmly.

"What do you want?" Zelda demanded.

"Now is your chance!"

"Actually, I want you to be my-"

At that exact moment, Link's saddle, began to slide, and he soon found himself on the floor.

"You didn't tighten the girth!" Zelda laughed.

Link grumbled and picked himself off of the floor, dusting his tunic and trousers.

"Awww, did I distract you?" Zelda teased as Link re-mounted Epona.

"Yup."

"You're so easily distracted." She remarked as she urged her horse, Winter, on, "besides, you've got your nerves up. This whole trip is supposed to be relaxing, not being scared on non-existent guardians."

"I guess you're right." Link sighed, drooping his arm down the side of Epona.

Zelda smiled at Link warmly and brushed her hair back.

"What is the plan for this trip, then?" She asked.

Link's ear perked up, and he looked at her with a smirk painted on his face.

"Its a surprise." He said.

"So I just have to trust that you have everything sorted out?" Zelda said sceptically.

"Do you trust me?" Link asked, "Because you need to trust me is you're going to follow me around blindly."

"I trust you... Of course I trust you, Link."

"Good, because I don't..." He mumbled to himself, "Uh... We'll stop at the next stable and then make our way to our first... Location..."

"You haven't thought this though, have you?" Zelda teased, "You're just making it up as we go along."

"That's how I like to live life." He smiled, "You honestly think I plan the stuff I do?"

"I read your diary..."

Link turned to look at her in shock, and before he could open his mouth to speak, she urged her horse into a gallop and hurried away from him.

"You're going to pay for that!" He called out over the wind.

"No, that was you paying me!" Zelda replied.

She spurred Winter on, hoping to get to the stable in the distance first. A few more strides. One more kick.

"Ha! I win!" She cried triumphantly.

"We weren't racing!" Link grumbled, "You were escaping for your life, and now you'd be pretty lucky to keep it once I get my hands on you."

Zelda casually slid off her horse and smirked at Link.

"Maybe you shouldn't leave your diary open on the latest page." She said airily.

"Maybe you shouldn't read it!"

"'She has eyes like the lush, green forests of Faron'". Zelda recited, "'And her hair is like the golden sun that bathes the Kingdom of Hyrule. Her smile always turns me to butter, and her laugh makes my heart flutter.'"

"Oh, thank God, she doesn't know." He mumbled, "was that it?"

"'Yesterday was amazing!'" She carried on reciting, "'We went on a picnic, and we fell asleep under the stars. She was so calm in my arms, her pale skin reflected under the moonlight. How I just wanted to kiss her so badly, but then decided against it, since it would be so much better if she was conscious."

"Look, you were asleep in my arms, what did you expect?" Link said awkwardly.

"And you'd rather kiss me when I'm conscious!" Zelda smirked.

"You're really annoying when you're conscious!" He snapped.

"I'm just going to go in, now." Zelda laughed, planting a kiss on his cheek, which he quickly wiped angrily.

"This is why a man doesn't keep a diary." The stable owner said, "Trust me, I know from experience."

"I'm burning it when we get back." Link laughed uncomfortably.

"You didn't happen to write about any, uh... 'Plans'... Did you?" The owner asked.

"I guess..." Link sighed, "But who am I kidding, only a fool would think that they'd have a chance."

"You seem like a lad who likes to take risks in life." The owner noted, "So why not? You never know, the answer might be what you're looking for."

"Link, come on, let's eat!" Zelda called out from the stable, "They've got a whole buffet in here."

"Two luxury beds, please." He asked the stableman, before handing over eighty rupees.

Before entering the stable, Link couldn't help but watch how Zelda was enjoying herself. The tears streaming down her face from laughter after a joke shared with the other guests, or her beautiful face full of food. Link loved it. Loved her.

"Maybe you're right." Link whispered, clutching the small box in his pocket.

--------------

It sure is lovely to write a more light-hearted story after How To Be a Prince! I honestly prefer it this way. Anyhooo. I hope you're enjoying the story, and if you have any suggestions or nit picks, please let me know, since its the only way I'll improve :)