Disclaimer: Of course I don't need to type it.

I have a problem: I've gotten 400-something hits, so shouldn't that mean that I should have 400-something reviews! Come on guys. Review. I don't care if you flame (er, actually, i do, but whatever) or if you give me a cookie or if you tell me that your favorite letter is squiggly. just REVIEW!

i do have that fleet of review fairies...

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Chapter Four

The icy rain lashed at Zelda's porcelain cheeks as she sped through Hyrule field atop a chestnut horse. Her heartbeat pounded rapidly in her ears, drowning out the wails of the crying baby girl in her arms. Her vision was blurred by light-headiness, her whole body still weak from giving birth.

Zelda began to have flash backs-of Link defeating Ganon, of when he confessed his love to her, of the sound of her father yelling at her when she suggested marrying someone who wasn't noble, of her crying to Impa, telling her everything; they all led up to this day, this moment.

When she rode into the Kokiri Forest, it was completely silent and empty, save for the rain spilling all around. Zelda had never visited the Forest before-she had only heard the countless stories from Link. Everything he had told her-how lush the grass was, how playful the children were, how wise the Great Deku Tree was-all were true.

Wait. The Great Deku Tree. Where was he?

Zelda began to search for any trace of the giant tree. 'It shouldn't be this hard to find…' she thought. After awhile of pointless searching, she began to panic.

"Are you lost?" a small voice said.

Zelda turned on her saddle to face a small Kokiri girl looking up at her. The girl was dressed in a green outfit, her damp green hair sticking to her face. Zelda instantly recognized her.

"Saria?" Zelda's voice quivered.

Saria smiled warmly in response.

Zelda sighed in relief. "Am I glad to see you. Can you tell me where-" At that moment, the baby, who had been silent for awhile, began to wail.

Saria gasped in shock as Zelda cradled the baby as quietly shooshed her.

"Is that…" Saria questioned, not believing her eyes.

"Yes, it's my child." Zelda said for the first time. The words sounded strange coming from her mouth. "That's why I need you to lead me to the Great Deku Tree."

Zelda didn't have to tell Saria who the father was, for she knew it was Link. A feeling of sadness fell on her heart-she always knew that Link would never return her feelings, but she hated to admit it.

"I had heard that you had been missing for some time." Saria said, grabbing the horse's reins from Zelda. "I didn't know it was because of something like this."

"No one does, really." Zelda said, cradling her baby tightly to her breast. "Not even…Link."

Saria stopped walking for a moment, shocked at what she was hearing. Link doesn't know? The situation was becoming more and more absurd with every word.

The two remained quiet as Saria led the horse through the forest, the rain finally beginning to die down to a sprinkle. When they reached a narrow opening in the trees, Saria handed the reins up to Zelda.

"Through here is the Great Deku Tree." Saria said, pointing down the opening. "You should be able to make it from here."

A tear of gratitude rolled down Zelda's cheek. "Thank you, Saria."

Saria blushed. "Of course," she said. "I was created to protect you.

After an instant, Zelda said, "Can you promise me something?"

"Yes."

"Will you protect my baby now, instead of me?"

Saria paused for a moment. "Of course, Princess."

Zelda smiled. "Thank you." She repeated. At that, she trotted into the dark opening.

Immediately after she saw a glimpse of light, an angry Deku Baba greeted Zelda, snapping viciously at her horse's hooves. The horse spooked at the sudden threat and reared up, punching its hooves in the air. Zelda gasped as she felt herself slipping off the saddle. Her hold on the baby became tighter.

The horrible shrieks of the Deku Baba filled her ears. "Shh!" she tried to calm her horse, pulling back on the reins hard. "Shh! Please-"

It was no use. The horse just would not cool it. Zelda knew that if she fell, she would be hurting more then herself-the baby wouldn't make it at all.

Just as Zelda lost hope and began to lose her grip on the reins, she heard a loud thud.

A silence replaced the shrieking.

Zelda looked to see that the Great Deku Tree had extended one of his roots and smashed the Deku Baba under its massive weight.

"Annoying pests." The Great Deku Tree said simply, his voice husky. His root recoiled back to the trunk.

It took Zelda a few second before she could fully take in the mammoth tree. 'And I thought the trees in the royal garden were huge…' she thought in awe. 'Compared to him, they're only useless twigs!'

"We finally met," Zelda said at last, stepping off her horse, "Great Deku Tree."

"New Great Deku Tree," the tree corrected. "I am shocked by thy presence, Princess of Destiny."

Walking closer to the tree, Zelda held out her baby. Zelda imagined the Great Deku Tree raising his eyebrows and gapping if he could have shown expression.

Thank the Triforce he couldn't.

"Please," Zelda begged, the baby asleep in her arms. "Your previous self took in Link-couldn't you take his child, too?"

It took the Great Deku Tree awhile to answer. "Well…I don't see any problem with fulfilling thy request. But I'll hast to deny the protection of his grandchildren."

Zelda smiled weakly.

"What is thy child's name?" the Great Deku Tree asked.

Zelda nuzzled her baby close, savoring their last moments together. Se felt like turning around and running back to the castle-but it was too late for that. No running. No turning back. She felt tears sting at the back of her eyes as she planted a warm kiss on the baby's forehead. 'Good-bye, my sweet baby…' she whispered.

"Lita." She replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "My baby's name is Lita."

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And that, my friends, is chapter four. hope you liked it!

one more thing: i think im going to have to start setting review goals for this story. i lose motivation easily, so if you don't review, i don't write. got it?