Hey, guys! So, recently, I got an idea of another story. This one came from a picture I saw online a while ago. Let's see how this goes, shall we?

I'm still not entirely sure how I'm going to do this story. I may decide to do it all at once, or maybe just write it normally - Though, WoM made me realize how much trouble that can get me in. Of course, then again, posting it all at once means I have to keep all the files, and that'll be a pain, especially for long stories... Ugh. We'll see how I deal with it. For now, I think I'll just post the prelude and see how people respond to it before I decide what I'll do.

On to the story!

Saria yawned as she awoke on her bed. It was another bright, new day. She got up and stretched, looking around for her fairy.

She's probably outside again... She thought Playing with the other fairies, no doubt.

She grabbed an apple out of the bowl of fruit on her table and made a mental note to gather more fruit from the forest before she got back. She then stepped outside. It was, predictably, a beautiful day. The weather was hardly ever bad in the forest.

All the other Kokiri were already up doing their daily activities. Saria was surprised to see one of them in front of her house, picking through the tall grass she'd never bothered to cut down. Although she wouldn't mind if it had to be cut down, she thought it looked nice the way she had it, anyway.

"Hey, Mike, I thought you were supposed to be on shop duty today?" Saria said as she walked up to him.

"Oh, good morning, Saria." Mike responded "Yeah, I know... Mido told me I had to cut the grass here, instead."

"Oh, that Mido..." Saria never liked the way Mido bullied the other Kokiri, telling them what to do. He was probably going to take the credit for Mike's work, too, to try and impress her. It wasn't going to work.

"By the way, have you seen Alta?" Saria asked Mike.

"Actually, she just barely flew into the Great Deku Tree's meadow."

"Ah, okay." She'd probably be back soon then, Saria reasoned "What do you think the Great Deku Tree wants with her?"

Mike shrugged "Beats me."

Saria nodded and walked away. If it was important, Alta would tell her. In the meantime, she would have a little chat with Mido...

But he wasn't home. She spotted him at the entrance to the Deku Tree's meadow and stormed up to him "Mido!"

Mido jumped "Oh! Hi, Saria!"

"What do you think you're doing, sending Mike to cut my lawn? He has other things he has to do too, you know!"

"I, uh... Don't know where you got the impression it was me... Heh..."

"Really? And Mike's word isn't good enough? You get over there right now and apologize!"

"Hehe, well, I'd love to... But, you see, I... I have to stay here!"

Saria tilted her head "Oh yeah? And why is that?"

"Because... Because there are, uh... Monsters around the Deku Tree!"

Saria sighed "You're full of it, Mido. The Great Deku Tree protects us from monsters, remember?"

"But it's true! I've seen them!"

"Have you? Well, then, show me!"

Mido looked hesitant "Well, uh... I don't think that's a good idea... Monsters are dangerous, after all!"

Saria sighed again. This just wasn't worth it, she decided "Fine, whatever. Just don't send anyone else to do your work for you." She told him as she turned and walked away. As she hopped across the stones in the pond, an idea struck her "I know! I can just borrow the Kokiri Sword, then we can go see about those 'Monsters'. It'd just be to persuade him, anyway, I'm sure the others won't mind." She said to herself before running off to the Forest Training Center.

As Saria reached the end of the small tunnel to where the Kokiri Sword was hidden, she stood up and dusted herself off "Phew... I forgot how tight a fit that was." She said to herself, looking around "Now, where is that sword...?"

She wandered around the area for a bit until she found the sword, which she strapped to her back and headed back to the small tunnel, and towards Mido again.

"Oh, Mido!" She yelled as she approached "Let me take care of those monsters for you!"

Mido was surprised to see Saria again "Huh? Why are you... Why do you have the Kokiri Sword?"

"Because I want to protect the Great Deku Tree from the monsters."

"Oh... Well, uh, just a sword isn't enough, you know... Some of those monsters can shoot projectiles at you."

"Oh, for the love of... Fine, I'll go get a shield, then I can take care of the monsters." She said, walking away towards the shop.

Buying a Deku Shield from the shopkeeper filling in for Mike, Saria waved to one of the other customers as she left, heading back to Mido again. When she got there, her fairy was talking to Mido and his fairy.

Saria ran up to them "Hi again! There you are, Alta!"

"Oh, hi Saria! I thought you'd still be asleep." Alta said "Hehe... But, that doesn't matter right now, we need to hurry!"

"What happened? Did Fado get stuck in the trees again?" Saria teased.

"No, not that. Come on, the Deku Tree's in trouble!"

Saria's expression immediately became serious, although frightened as well "What?!"

"Let's hurry!" Alta said, flying ahead. Saria wasted no time in following her, but was interrupted by monsters bursting out of the ground "Woah!"

Alta flew back over to Saria "Be careful, Saria! Those are Deku Babas!"

"Deku Babas?" Saria questioned "How did they get here?"

"I told you the Deku Tree is in trouble!"

Saria looked at the Babas, then at Mido "Well, it looks like you were right..."

"...I was? Oh, yeah! I was!" Mido responded.

"Come on, Saria, cut down the Babas and let's get going!" Alta urged.

Saria looked at the Babas again "I dunno... What if I get hurt?"

"They can't move around much, you'll be fine." Alta answered.

Saria nodded "Right..." she said, before approaching the Deku Babas. They were standing straight up the whole time, unlike what Saria expected them to do. She had expected them to bend and look down at her. After realizing that their stems were hard, she cut them down with no problem, and the group headed to the Deku Tree's meadow.

There was a crowd of Kokiri behind Saria and Mido by this point - Their fairies had told them about the Deku Tree as well. Everyone gathered around the Deku Tree, worried.

"Great Deku Tree, we're here." One of them said.

"What's wrong, Great Deku Tree? You don't look good..." Said another.

"My children, the Kokiri..." The Deku Tree spoke "I have bad news for you all... I am dying."

The air was soon filled with concern from all the Kokiri "D-dying? Why?"

"Last night, an outsider came into the forest seeking me. He wanted something from me, and when I wouldn't give it to him, he laid a curse on me."

"A curse? What kind of curse?"

"Are you gonna be alright?"

Saria stepped up "Is there anything we can do, Great Deku Tree?"

The Deku Tree was silent for a moment "There... Might be a way..."

"Please, tell us!" Saria begged "The Kokiri can't afford to lose you! We need you!"

"The source of the curse is a monster inside of me." The Deku Tree informed them "If the monster is defeated, that may do it. But, it would be very dangerous."

Saria nodded "Right. Well, I'll go in and defeat that monster, then!"

"What are you saying, Saria?" Mido protested "If you go up against the monster, who knows what'll happen to you?"

"Who knows what'll happen to us if the Great Deku Tree dies?" Saria countered "The monster could finish with him, then come after us."

"But..."

"That's it, Mido. I'm going."

There was silence throughout the meadow for what seemed like an eternity, until the Deku Tree spoke again "Very well. If you wish to fight the monster to save me, then enter." He said, opening his mouth "And we shall await the results of your attempt."

Saria nodded and looked at Alta "You ready to go?" She asked the fairy.

"Are you sure about this, Saria?" Alta asked "This is gonna be really dangerous..."

"I know. I can handle it." Saria answered, looking around at the other Kokiri "I'm the only one who can."

"Alright, let's go then..." Alta said, and the two headed into the Deku Tree...