Perfect
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Chapter 1
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Saria loved the forest meadow. For one reason, she could be comfortable there. There would be no reason for her to worry about the other, innocent Kokiri, not to mention Mido. She could lie there, on the soft grass, and let her thoughts drift her to other worlds. Never mind that she was the sage of the forest. One wouldn't care where she was as long as she was there when something important happened. After all, it was her duty to watch over the others. The Deku Tree made sure of that, and there wasn't much she could do to object that.
With a sigh, she finally opened her eyes. There she expected to see a fading sky, half-covered because of the tree's foliage. Instead, she saw the bright red orb of her fairy. Toal was angry at her, again.
"What did I tell you about sneaking off like that, Saria?" he tinkered bells in her pointy ears, again.
She gazed up at him innocently, ready for another lecture. No, no, she wasn't supposed to leave the small village and head to the meadow. The meadow wasn't safe anymore. Rebels were compromising her temple. In the past year, the forest was going under a red alert. The witches were getting angry, and the forest wanted to protect the Kokiri- especially Saria.
What could she do? She hadn't spoken to the other Sages since Ganondorf's fate was sealed, and the Deku Tree would never let her leave the forest.
"It's a dangerous time, right now," Toal continued, his fairy wings fluttering angrily as he swirled around her head, "You shouldn't be here. You should go back to the village, Saria. This instant!"
She closed her cerulean eyes and suppressed another sigh.
"Are you even listening?!" her fairy rattled on.
But then, just as she was about to ignore his ranting some more, she heard rustling of bushes from above. Her eyes shot open in worry.
"I'm listening," Saria whispered. Her body froze and she was tempted to stay in that position forever, hoping the bad vibe washing over her would soon disappear.
"What's that?" Toal asked, gliding on Saria's shoulder. His red hue changed to blue; his anger so suddenly forgotten.
The rustling continued, and Saria pounced up. Her legs wobbled ever so slightly, and she realized then how long she must have been lying in the meadow, drinking in her old dreams of being alive.
"Who's there?" she called out, her voice slightly hoarse.
Faint laughter reached her ears. She tensed, the power of the sages glowing in her- ready to spring from her palm and disintegrate the possible evil lurking nearer and nearer. But, she resisted. Her curiosity was becoming just as overwhelming.
"Answer me!" she yelled. Toal jumped from his perch on her shoulder, afraid now that his Kokiri might do something drastic.
"Oh, now," the female voice was melodious, like ever forest dweller should have, "Child, should you speak in that tone with me?"
Saria backed away from the cluster of trees she had been lying under. The voice sounded familiar, and she even wished she had not asked for the person to answer her call.
"Who are you?" the Kokiri continued, despite her doubt. She had to know what this evil was- it was for the forest's safety.
"Do you not recognize my voice?" it asked, "Do you not recognize who I am? Perhaps…" The voice was soft, but Saria didn't think the same once she saw the shadow slinking down the tree.
"You!" the girl was ready to shriek, but it was hopeless to think a band of Kokiri could help her, or let alone find their way to the meadow. Maybe, she could call for Link. Then, she shook her head. She promised to herself that she would never do that, never in a million years. She hated that face.
"Your mother misses you," the Deku Witch smirked, her bark-skin stretching along her lips, "Come back to me, Saria."
"You're an evil creature!" the said girl screamed, as she grabbed hold of her right wrist, "I will destroy you if you come nearer."
The witch was unfazed. She raised her calloused hand and lifted a stray strand of leaves from her face. Her yellow eyes were placid, and Saria could have sworn she saw her mother's face staring back at her.
A trick, she thought vehemently, I would never fall for those tricks, again.
"Please, Saria," the Deku Witch leered, "Come back to me, come with me and we will escape. You and I- like the real Hylians we were meant to be."
"No!" Saria shook her head, her dark green hair bobbing along with her. A stray leaf fell from her shoulder. The witch's gaze fell with it.
"I miss you," her lips stuck out from her face, as if someone had carved into her when she had slept amongst the trees, "I have created a potion, one that can return us to normal, Saria. But for me, it is too late."
"Don't you dare offer me anything," Saria growled, "The forest provides us with everything, witch, for you to take that away. For what? So, we can live on the streets like common beggars?"
The witch's eyes slanted in anger, "The forest has made you a vile child, Saria. Just because you are the sage, does not mean you can control me. You cannot keep me away, Saria. You are my only hope."
Toal finally flew forward. His hue was red, again. "You won't lay a finger on her, witch. You will leave this place, or I will have the Deku Tree leave you in the fields to rot!"
The Deku Witch smirked, "Very well, Saria. But, I know what you want, child. I know you cannot live the rest of your damned life here. See him grow, see him love, see him change. I know what you want."
Saria's face fell, her lips forming a grim line as she dropped both her hands to her side.
The Deku Witch stretched her long branches for arms, stretching her body to accumulate her movement. Her leafy hair, strung about her, usually shrouding half of her once beautiful face, blew in the evening breeze. In seconds, she was gone.
"What do you want, Saria?" Toal asked, his tone lost, as if he had been defeated in an argument.
She shook her head, "I want nothing."
Toal sighed. He had lost an argument, again. He fluttered off, his hue now changing back to blue.
Saria sighed, "I want to be alive."
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