Tree lady

By Yu-Ju Chen By Yu-Ju Chen

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Tree lady

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Content

Introduction: Main Characters P.4

Author’s Page P.6

Chapter one: The peaceful forest P.7

Chapter two: The variables P.13

Chapter three: The deal P.24

Chapter four: Pay the price P.30

Chapter five: The legend P.39

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Main Characters

Tracy (Scorpio): A tree with clear human loves and hates.

She would sacrifice her life for love. Her brave is stupid and

also smart.

The prince (Aquarius): A man whose mother is strict to him

and couldn’t decide his own faith is also pathetic.

Chirpy (Cancer): A bird and also is Tracy’s friend who is a

sense of justice.

The princess (Gemini): A real woman and wife of the prince

who was born in wealthy family and well-educated. She is

jealous and afraid of losing her position in the prince’s mind.

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The queen (Taurus): The prince’s mother with strong will and

hope in her son since the king is dead.

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About the Author

Yu-Ju Chen is a fourth grade student

in college school. She knows the moral standards are the

most important education in everyone’s childhood. “Tree

lady” is her first novel and the only one without criticizes.

Although Yu-Ju Chen didn’t criticize in this story, she made

not a few of irony in telling human beings. She sees inside

human beings and always observes them accurately. As a

college student in Wenzao, she always has positive thinking

and cheers other classmates up all the time. We could expect

her to write more about this inspiring and teachable novel.

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Chapter one：The peaceful forest

‘Trace…’

Silence.

There is a thick, dark cloud right above the Black Forest.

About four miles outside Black Forest to where a towering

shining palace built cover on cupper. Although it was in

the middle of the night, the moonlight spread out on the

castle and reflected on the Black forest to light the all place up.

‘Trace…’ said an old tree in the forest. A few minutes later,

a crispy voice broke the silence on the cool night. ‘Yes,

daddy…What do you need? Are you feeling

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uncomfortable?’ said her daughter Tracy. ‘No…I feel

excellent. But I cannot sleep without telling you something.

Would you listen to me?’ ‘Of course, but what is so urgent

that you must tell me at night?’ wondered Trace. ‘Tracy, my

sensitive darling, do you know what kind of position I as your

father had taken in Black Forest?’ ‘ a mediator,’ answered

Trace. ‘Excellent! And what as a mediator should do and

shouldn’t do?’ questioned the old tree. ‘When we judge

troubles, we shouldn’t mix our feelings in,’ replied Trace.

‘You are really learning. I am so proud of you,’

‘Daddy…Time for bed,’ yawning Trace. ‘Ok…by the way,

let me remind you…,’ ‘Daddy, I want to sleep…’ replied

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Trace. Then, Trace put herself to sleep again.

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Sun was shining on Black Forest. Everything turns

bright and fresh. The yellow leaves were falling when the

wind blew. Trace suddenly realized that her father had been

eaten throughout the night by white ants and he had passed

away. All her father’s friends were gathering around and

praying for him. Trace recalled her childhood with her

father laughing about the little squirrel falling down from

father’s arms, crying for somebody carving words on Trace’s

skin which hurt her painfully, and now those little things

turned into a huge needle stinging Trace’s heart. However,

she didn’t and couldn’t have tears. She must obey what her

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father had told her and all the expectations are to be like her

father. She looked strong, brave and cheerful someway,

somehow. But, she showed her sadness and cried only when

she heard snoring deep in peaceful night. Trace’s best friend,

Chirpy, knew her well and always encouraged Trace to show

sad feelings out and forget about the self-esteem of being a

strong tree. Trace had also tried hard but she had failed.

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Birds were still singing on the branches, and squirrels were

running on Trace’s arms. Trace laughed, listened to the

complaints, and also made jokes to please all the animals as

usual. She almost could hear her heart breaking because she

was not happy deep inside. Trace looked fine outside and

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so cheerful that only Chirpy knew Trace was pretending.

Suddenly, everybody heard crying from a short distance

outside the forest. Somebody was running toward Trace and

stepping on those crispy leaves making loud sounds. ‘How

could it be possible…,’ cried the woman. The lady kicked

the heavy roots on the grass and helplessly fell down on Trace’s

trunks. At this moment, a horse’s steps had got closer and

closer with a man’s low voice shouting ‘Elena! Elena!’ The

lady hid behind Trace’s huge body and on a sudden, the sound

in the air became still again. Trace looked at that man

carefully for she had been startled by the man’s appearance.

The woman hid still behind Trace and breathed quietly.

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‘Elena? That was so strange, I saw her running this way,’

glancing around again. ‘Ok, that’s go. Maybe I saw the

wrong person!’ He turned back to the palace side and shouted

again ‘Elena… Elena…’ The woman cried out and broke

the silence through the forest. All of the animals

disappeared as usual when human beings walked into the

forest. The crying woman suddenly started sobbing and

walked away from Trace. She murmured something that all

the animals in the forest couldn’t understand. That night,

Trace recalled what she had seen in the morning; a man with a

golden shining suit, blond hair, blue eyes, and in a very special

attitude. ‘What am I thinking about? He is handsome

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indeed, but…’ observed Trace. She always looked inside

herself to make sure what her thought wasn’t wrong. From

she had seen him, she became happier then ever. She seemed

had forgotten about the sadness around her lately. Trace was

happy again. Chirpy was also happy for her, but didn’t know

what the reasons were.

Chapter two：The variables

There once was a rumor in the forest called “The laws

of Forbidden.” The rumor was about the rules in the Black

Forest. A creature in the forest once broke the rules：‘Don’t

be what human beings are, be yourself and stay in your own

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position in the forest. If you don’t, the

punishment will be very serious. Do not

even try!’ listed in “The Bible of Black

Forest” Trace remembered what her Daddy had taught her and

warned her. She couldn’t stop thinking about him; the man.

She wanted to ask him some questions like “What’s your

name?” or “What do you like to do?” Trace wanted to know

everything about that handsome man. Chirpy flew to Trace’s

arms and questioned her about the reason of happiness lately.

‘What are you laughing for?’ wondered Chirpy. ‘Am I? You

don’t want me to be happy, do you?’ smiled Trace bashfully.

‘Could you tell me what is happening to you?’ ‘No…, I am

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afraid of something bad,’ Trace said considerately. Chirpy

gave her an annoyed looking and flew away. ‘Hey…don’t go,

please. Ok…, I will tell you everything,’ begged Trace.

Chirpy flew back to her branches and listened to her best

friend tell her the secret. ‘But you have to guarantee not to

tell anyone this,’ ‘Of course, I won’t. What is it?’ Chirpy put

her hands under her cheeks waiting for Trace’s confess. “I

think I have fallen in love with a man…,’ ‘Is this real or have

you just made this up to fool me? You should know what a

tree should do and realize the rules in this forest,’ asked Chirpy.

‘Yes, that is why I couldn’t tell anybody about this. But the

more I hide it, the more I feel pain,’ cried Trace loudly. Both

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Trace and Chirpy didn’t know the secret has been

eavesdropped on another bird: Chirpy’s Mother. That night,

when Chirpy went home, her mother was sitting in the middle

of the nest. ‘Where have you been? I have something to

remind you. Sit down, baby.’ said her mother in a strict but

gentle voice. ‘Yes, mom,’ ‘my dear, do you know we have a

very serious punishment for those who don’t behave

themselves well in the forest,’ ‘Yes, mom,’ ‘And, do you know

how your father died?’ Chirpy’s mom didn’t stare at Chirpy.

‘He was trying to fly over the forest and lived in another place,

and had behaved himself not well and tried to disobey the

『rules』,’ said Chirpy calmly. ‘Let me remind you again:

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Don’t even think about breaking the rules for you are the only

baby I have. I don’t want to lose you…,’ Chirpy’s mother

sounded tired, but Chirpy didn’t know with her mother for

telling her truth.

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The next day, Chirpy didn’t want to go find Trace.

Chirpy didn’t want to talk about this secret in day time. It was

the right time for someone to hear the secret and talk it out.

Chirpy felt the atmosphere was strange this morning in the

forest. All of the animals were gone, therefore the forest was

silent and the creepiest thing was her mother didn’t wake her

up until noon. She flew for almost two miles around the

forest, but couldn’t find where her mother was. She then

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flew forward to find her best friend, Trace. Almost one mile

close Trace, Chirpy saw a black spot on the ground circling a

tree, and was startled by recognizing her

friend, Trace, was the tree standing in the

middle of those animals. Chirpy got some

ideals in minds. ‘You can not do that,’ said one in the

crowd. ‘You must leave! Shame on you and your father.’

scolded by an old squirrel. To the matter of fact, Trace is a

tree. She could not walk away. If she were a tree, she

would leave right now. However, Trace didn’t cry. She

ignored what people were saying. At all sudden, the church

bell was ringing. It was just like thunder splashing in Tracy’s

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mind. She wanted to be a real woman and ran away now.

The crowds who were scolding at Trace suddenly turned their

face toward the church. They could see a couple stepping

out of the church smiling happily. Trace admired that girl so

much. How she wanted to be a human and marry to

someone who deeply in loved with her！ The couple

walked toward Trace. Trace recognized that woman was the

girl running and crying in the forest and the groom was that

one Trace dreamed of day and night. She felt disappointed

and could not cry in front of everybody because she knew that

would not be a good idea. If she were a human, a real

woman, she would compete with that girl who is armed that

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groom right now. She was totally lost and did not even try

to do something. She hated herself for doing nothing active

and even felt sad for the crying girl who now was a happy

bride and armed the man she loved. She swallowed her tears

and faced everybody’s scolds. This dim night, she begged

Chirpy to find a witch, because Trace wanted to be a ‘real

woman.’ Obviously, she did not care about the rules. Chirpy

hesitated, ‘Why? I do not think it is a good idea. You will be

a big gossip and I will be blamed.’ ‘Do you want to help me?

I still want to be your friend, but I am afraid I have no

choices,’ ‘As a friend, I should do the best for you. Tell me

what I should do?’ ‘Go find the witch! I want my true love.’

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Trace could not stand it anymore and tears went out. Chirpy

flew to a witch and asked her if an animal or plant could

become a human. After the witch understood what Chirpy

meant, she warned it was risky if an animal did not find true

love, it might turn back to what it was or become dust

disappearing in the air. ‘Follow me, please.’ Chirpy lead the

witch to where Trace was. ‘Are you

ready?’ asked the witch. ‘Yes!

Absolutely,’ answered Trace. The witch murmured some

words and took out a bottle of medicine. ‘Can I be a maid

serving you when you are a human?’ asked Chirpy. ‘Chirpy…

Are you going to be with me? Oh…you are such a good

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friend.’ ‘What as friends for..., as my mom, I am sure she

would be proud of me being a friend of yours,’ said Chirpy.

The witch sprayed green medicine on Trace’s trunk on the

ground and let Chirpy drink it. Both Trace and Chirpy fell

asleep. The witch left her alone and laughed for their silly.

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Bright lights shined on Trace and Chirp’s faces made

both their faces look pale and pretty. They woke up and

looked at each other. ‘Am I Trace?’ ‘Am I Chirpy? Wow,

that’s amazing!’ ‘How do I walk like a woman?’ wondered

Trace. They practiced how people are looking, laughing,

walking. They were happy but they knew there will be a

bigger thing waiting for them: To find true love! They said

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good-bye to their past and all the animals in the forest.

Trace was going to visit the witch and went to find the man

she loved. She wanted to know the result if she could not

find true love or how long she could be alive. They had no

money to buy food, but an old couple took them in their

house and gave them clothes and food a few days ago. One

day, at the dinner table, Trace asked the old grandma about a

woman who marry currently. ‘Well…I can’t remember lots

of things by these days. The prince was getting married

about three weeks ago. Why do you ask?’ ‘Nothing special, I

am thankful for your kindness but I have nothing in return…’

‘That’s fine,’ smiled the two old people. Trace and Chirpy

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left the two old people and was going to find the witch.

Chapter three： The deal

‘Who is it?’ asked the witch. ‘It is me, the

tree, Trace’ answered Trace. The witch

opened the door and said, ‘You are going to ask me the result

of couldn’t find true love? I want to ask you first, why you

can do something impulsively and still worrying about the

results?’ ‘Well, that was a sort of feeling…,’ Trace sounded

absent-minded. ‘Come and sit down, tea or milk?’ ‘No,

thanks. What would we be if I couldn’t be his wife?’ ‘Well, I

want you to know you have limited times. During these 365

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days, you have to let him be your husband and love you very

much. Secondly, you can not be pregnant. If you can’t find

true love, you and Chirpy both will be what you were before or

be punished unluckily: you will become dust disappearing in

the air. That all depends on what you are going to do.’

explained the witch. Trace concentrated on looking out of

the window. Chirpy then asked the witch again, ‘How long

will we live?’ ‘It depends on when you find true love. If you

did, you will live as long as human beings.’ Trace was still

absent-minded. Ok, that’s alright. I am a real woman now;

I can’t go back and must walk forward. ‘Thank you; I must

go find my true love.’ Trace cut in suddenly. They opened

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the door and said good-bye to the witch. They felt

something coming to their mind; something heavy, unknown

and unavoidable. ‘How should we find “him”?’ asked Chirpy.

‘Let’s go to that big building, he might be there. Grandma

won’t lie to us.’ Trace ran toward that castle and Chirpy

shouted after her. They looked happily like they had already

found Trace’s true love.

‘So, this is the gate of the castle. How can

we go in?’ thought Chirpy. ‘We can climb on the

wall and jump in. But, the guards would be many and we

would be killed…,’ Trace suggested that they should wait

outside the castle because the prince will surely come out.

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‘You are right. Let’s wait outside.’ Although it was cool

outside, it was still cold in the middle of the night.

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The noises of the big gate wakened the two fair ladies

up. ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ They opened their eyes

and heard a clear voice, ‘Hey, ladies, what are you doing here?’

The man is that prince. ‘Do you have a home?’ asked the

prince kindly. Trace looked at him without saying any

words. After a while, the prince broke the ice and said,

‘Excuse me, I am going hunting.’ turning his face from Trace

and Chirpy’s faces. ‘No…’ spoke Trace. She thought that

was an unbelievable chance. She must say something to make

him notice her. ‘Wait…, are you the prince? I do not have

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any other thoughts but…’ ‘But what?’ he turned his face back

and looked at Trace carefully. ‘May I…may I be your

wife...oh, not wife, I mean may I be your maid?’ shacking

Trace. ‘I am sorry, but I can’t decide who would be my maid

or servant.’ Trace was disappointed but she kept asking him if

she could be a serve in the palace. This was the last chance

for her to be his wife after all. ‘Uh…Ok. What is your

name?’ ‘My name is Trace and this is my friend, Chirpy,’ ‘No, I

am her maid actually.’ Trace glanced at Chirpy at once thinking

how good her friend was. The prince kept asking Trace

some questions. Then he went into the castle and asked his

mother if he could have a maid serve him. After few hours

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later, the prince walked out and smiled, ‘Yes, she said ok, but

you must go to see her.’ ‘Not a problem, I will do my best.

Am I right, Chirpy?’ ‘Yes,’ smiled Chirpy. They wondered

how lucky they were and everything had gone in their way.

‘Follow me, please…,’ said one of the servants with swords.

‘You two must keep your mouths tight unless our master asks

you questions,’ reminded a kind servant. Trace and Chirpy

looked at each other smiling. They knew them almost did it.

They came into the main door of this castle. The door was

made on shining gold and there was a big and old tree. She

was thinking about her self-satisfied looks and round face.

The servant opened the big door and led them to a beautiful

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room. ‘You are Trace and Chirpy. Let me see your faces.

Come over here,’ said the queen. ‘Well, you can stay here and

serve the prince, but you should learn how to dress yourselves

first. Lead these girls to the dressing room.’ A maid came

over and led them to shower. ‘You are so lucky to be the

prince’s maids. You only need to prepare breakfast for our

prince and princess. That is all,’ admired the maid. They

looked at each other and smiled again. The maid didn’t

notice that. Their dream is going to realize.

Chapter four： Pay the price

Trace and Chirpy started to learn how to be maids and

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observed the prince every day. Trace and Chirpy tried really

hard to adapt to the life in the palace, but in some of

conditions, Trace didn’t like the princess. The princess

always looked at Trace in a strange looking; the eyes were strict

and unkind. When Trace served the princess, Elena, she

always complained about everything including the temperature

of the tea. Trace recalled the princess was that crying girl in

the forest and had once gained her compassion. That was

the world of human beings and mixed feelings. Trace

realized how hard it was to gain the prince’s love because the

prince would not even glance at her except during the time she

served the meals. How could she expect him to love her?

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There were almost two hundred days last in her life. She

tried hard to get some information about the prince to be

closer to her. Every morning after Trace served the meal, she

always smiled at the prince to get his attention and that

irritated his princess, Elena. Trace sometimes will

eavesdropped on the conversation between the queen and

Elena. Elena often said something about Trace and that

made her uncomfortable. She was sad, and even wanted to

drop the idea of marry the prince. However, she had no

choice. She felt strange about the conversation between the

queen and Elena. The queen always ignored what Elena

complained about; Elena was trying to get the queen’s

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attention. They were arguing not only about Trace, but

something much more serious.

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One afternoon, Trace heard a loud voice and heard

something mystery. ‘Now, what do you want indeed? You let

me in, and you ignore me like I am invisible,’ shouted Elena.

‘Well, the only solution for you is to go away,’ replied the

queen in a low voice. ‘No, I love prince although I can’t have

a baby with him,’ cried Elena. ‘Then, go away; I don’t want

to see you again. My son is also sick of your capricious

becoming.’ said the queen coldly. Elena cried a little bit and

opened the big door of the queen’s room. Trace was outside

and heard the conversation between these two. Elena saw her

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standing beside the door and was shocked, ‘Why are you here?

What is your duty? Do you want to go away?’ Trace could

see the red color on her nose and in her eyes. ‘No, I bring

tea for the queen. That’s all,’ replied Trace.

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Trace had a good relationship with the queen lately.

The queen always wanted her to bring tea to her room and

dressed Trace like a daughter. Actually, the queen had once

asked her if she wanted to be the prince’s wife. Every time

she was asked, Trace almost said ‘Yes!’ to her. Because of

Elena, she couldn’t be so heartless. That night, when Trace

was serving meals to the prince and princess, Trace smiled at

the prince as usual. Tonight, the queen drank lots of wine

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happily and also asked the prince to drink. The prince

couldn’t drink anymore and told his maid, Trace, to take him

to his room. The princess was drunk, too. Trace helped

the prince back to his room. ‘Are you Trace? Why do you

always smile at me? Do you know that, I, I have liked you for a

long time, in fact, since we met outside the castle…, you

looked so pretty and pale…., But I have a wife that my

mother wanted me to marry. I once asked her to leave

because I didn’t like her, but my mother was there, and she

wanted me to promise her to marry the princess of Black

Country. Do you know how hard to made that decision?’

cried the prince. ‘I know, I also have made a hard decision

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and promise, too. That was really hard, go to sleep my

prince.’ ‘Stay with me!’ shouted the prince. The prince let her

lie next to him. They had a beautiful night. Trace

succeeded and the prince told her what was on his mind.

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Time flew. Trace got pregnant and was about to

deliver. No one knew whose baby she had. Trace still

smiled at the prince when she was serving the meals and the

difference was neither she got the response from the prince

nor he smiled at her. The princess was irritated and angry,

but the queen was happy and excited. Everyone in the palace

knew the situation among all of these people, including

Chirpy. Chirpy was happy to see that happened. It was the

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secret between her and Trace.

Today was the three hundred and sixty-four day, and

Trace thought she was so lucky to have found her true love.

But she must marry the prince; otherwise she would turn to be

dust as well. ‘When I deliver the baby, I will be his wife,’

thought Trace. This evening, when Trace was serving the

meals, she felt pain in her womb. She was going to have the

prince’s baby!

Trace delivered a beautiful boy. He looked

just like his father, the prince. But, today was

Trace’s last day in this castle.

After she delivered a boy, she weakly told Chirpy that she

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wanted to see her child. Chirpy told her that the child was

taken to the queen by Elena. ‘No, I want to see my baby.

Please, bring him here!’ begged Trace. The queen now

walked toward Trace’s room and held a child in her arms.

The queen walked into the dark room and said, ‘I must

remind you that you are a “maid” not a princess. I very

appreciate to find you gave a baby to us. Tomorrow you are

going to leave this castle, so pack your things right away,’ said

the queen coldly. Trace was terrified and passed out.

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Chapter five：The legend

Trace was wakened up by the cold wind and found herself and

Chirpy lying in the forest. Trace couldn’t believe she was

happy just yesterday when she smiled at the prince while she

was serving the meals. Now, she was in the Black Forest

where she was a tree just like before. She ran to the gate of

the castle and begged the guard to open the door, but the two

guards were standing there like two big stones. She was

desperate and looked at Chirpy and said ‘What should I do

now?’ ‘Wait here and see whether the prince will come out

looking for you,’ suggested Chirpy. Trace was crying and

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shouting the prince’s name. She remembered what he had

said that night, no, she would never forget that. That was

her choice anyway, and now the situation could not be even

worse. ‘Ok, I will wait here and this is my last chance.’

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However, this was the day for the curse to come true.

Trace didn’t see the prince and her legs and hands turned into

long and rugged. She became a tree again, and Chirpy

became dust disappearing in the air. Trace was a tree

standing right outside in front of the gate of the castle. She

recalled what her best friend had done for her and been

disappointed in herself. If she behaved well like her father

had said, she would be a tree in the forest and become respect.

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Actually, she did not regret what she had done, but she

wouldn’t do this again if she had another choice at that time.

Trace felt sad about her father and Chirpy, her best friend.

She realized what the human’s world was like. Now, she is a

legend in the forest; sad but moral.

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Tree Lady In the Black Forest near the castle, Trace had been a tree for centuries. After her father “the old tree” died, she was very sad and unhappy. One day, there appeared a handsome prince and Trace felt herself had fallen in love with him. Trace became happier and even wanted to marry this man. However, she wasn’t a real woman. Trace asked her friend, Chirpy, to find the witch. The witch turned Trace and Chirpy into human beings. Trace wanted to find her true love and Chirpy wanted to help Trace. Will Trace find her true love in the end? If she didn’t find her true love, the magic would disappear?