Chapter Ten
The short ride lasted as long as possible for Aleera. When Deku would lose balance or miss a step, Aleera would gasp and clutch her torso. Neyleen would frown, wishing she could do something for her, but Aleera allowed her magic to only go so far.
"Really, I'm fine!" Aleera insisted. "Don't waste your magic on me anymore, Nellie."
Neyleen bit her lip, but nodded her head. Her twin was right, though. Neyleen needed all the power she could get. Suddenly, they both looked down at their hands. The Triforce was glowing and stinging.
"What's going on?" Neyleen murmured, rubbing her hand.
"I dunno, maybe Dezaia..?" Aleera didn't have to finish.
They kicked their horses harder, flying across the field and finally coming to Zora's River. The princesses paused at the riverbed, looking at it. It was beautiful, crystal clear, and it sparkled in the rising sunlight. Aleera slowly dismounted her horse and knelt down by the river. Neyleen dismounted as well, kneeing beside her sister.
"It's wonderful." Aleera murmured, brushing her fingers in the water. "And…cold?"
Her fingers froze in the water, just feeling. With a shudder, she pulled them out and dried them on her tunic.
"It's freezing!" She cried.
Neyleen tilted her head, looking down the river. She gaped at what she saw. Up river, it was completely frozen. Aleera followed her stare and gasped.
"What happened?" Neyleen muttered, standing.
Her sister could give no answer as she stood up. They stared down the river, shocked at what they saw. Aleera stepped forward, walking towards the icy river. Neyleen followed, pulling the horses along. The wide river was frozen all the way across, so slowly Aleera stepped her foot down gently. Testing her weight each step, she continued across safely. Neyleen hesitated, though, the horses' reins trembling in her hands.
"Let me go ahead." Aleera called from across at seeing her sister's face. "Maybe there's a land bridge or something."
"Okay, but be careful!"
Aleera nodded, and continued down the riverbed. Strangely, only the water was iced-over, and the grass around it was still a summer green. How was this possible? Aleera paused, scanning the landscape for anything like a bridge. Her eyes spotted a narrow land bridge across the way. She turned and jogged back to her sister.
"There's a land bridge up there, but Neyleen, just come across. Leave the horses. They'll be fine." Aleera said.
Neyleen's eyes widened. Leave the horses?
"We shouldn't be long." Aleera assured when her sister hesitated.
Her twin eventually agreed, tying the horses to a small tree. She carefully made her way across the river and gratefully took her sister's outstretched hand. They silently walked along the river, gazing at the frozen beauty that is Zora's River. The princesses made it to the narrow bridge and trudged to the other side. Soon enough, after crossing a few other bridges, they made it to the Sleepless Waterfall. It was, of course, frozen. They stood on a platform facing the waterfall, and Neyleen cursed.
"I left the ocarina in Oni's bag." She sighed. "I'll just go back and-"
"There's no time!" Aleera said, grabbing her sister's arm.
Then they both felt their hands burn. Neyleen dipped her head in agreement, and a small grin appeared on her face. Aleera knew what her twin was grinning about, and her face reddened. She began to sputter.
"Looks like you'll have to sing after all." Neyleen said softly, a laugh threatening to escape her mouth.
Aleera frowned, on the verge of throwing a tantrum.
"But you can sing, too! You do it!" Aleera said desperately.
"Nope, you have to."
"No! Both of us!"
Neyleen cocked her head, considering. Aleera jutted out her bottom lip, her chin trembling. Her twin rolled her eyes and slapped her playfully on the cheek.
"Fine, fine. That seems fair enough."
Aleera smiled, relieved. They joined hands, facing the frozen waterfall. Neyleen nodded, and reluctantly, Aleera began to sing Zelda's Lullaby.
Her voice echoed off of the land and made it louder than it actually was. Aleera's soft, gentle voice was joined by Neyleen's even softer, but firm, voice. Their voices entwined with each other, making a perfect harmony. The beautiful sound traveled down the river and seemed to be heard from every inch of Hyrule.
The song ended, the twins closing their mouths. A rumble was sent through the earth, and the Sleepless Waterfall cracked and snapped. A sudden rush of water burst forth from the cracks, rushed under the bridge they stood on, and landed on the river. The river, then, broke itself. The water began to flow once more. The princesses watched as the waterfall broke open, splitting in two sections and making an entrance to Zora's Domain.
"What?" Aleera breathed.
Zora's Domain was still frozen solid. The source of Zora's River was frozen over, as was the paths leading to the inside tunnels of the domain. There were no Zoras in sight. Confusion passed over their faces as they jumped into the domain. Neyleen cried out and slid on the icy floor, falling on her backside. Aleera helped her up, but fell down herself. They giggled softly, laying there, staring up at the icy ceiling.
"Suppose we should get now." Aleera teased, sitting up.
"I hate ice." Neyleen mumbled, sitting up as well.
Once they both were standing on their feet as firmly as possible, they looked around the empty domain. No Zora in view. They gradually worked their way across the ice, holding onto each other's arms for support. Suddenly, there was a crack that boomed through the domain. Aleera looked down just in time to see the ice break from under her. She fell down into the icy waters. Neyleen cried out, immediately going to aid her sister. Aleera fell and fell, the weight of her items pulling her down. She gasped, water rushing into her mouth. She kicked and flailed her arms uselessly. Aleera coughed, making it worse.
When her lungs started to burn with lack of oxygen, Aleera felt a tug upward. She looked up through half-closed eyes. Her sister dived in after her, only wearing the tan undergarment that covered most of their bodies. Neyleen wrapped her arm around Aleera's torso and pushed off the bottom, desperately swimming to the surface. They made it, just in time, gasping as air refilled their lungs. Neyleen shoved her sister back onto the ice, and then pulled herself up. Both lay down, panting.
"You…okay?" Neyleen asked, out of breath.
Aleera nodded, closing her eyes and coughing out the excess water. Neyleen sat up and turned Aleera onto her side. Aleera coughed again, the last of the water spewing out of her mouth. Then, she started to shiver. Neyleen striped her twin of the soaking and freezing tunic, chainmail, and the tan undergarment from her. She put her own tunic on her sister, and she started to rub her arms and legs.
"Rub your chest." Neyleen ordered gently.
After about half an hour, Aleera's clothes were dried by Neyleen's magic and Aleera herself was warm once more. They then continued the search carefully, watching and listening for cracks in the ice.
"Hello? Princess Ruto?" Neyleen called.
Only her echo answered. Both called and called, but got no answer. They moved slowly through the ice caverns that used to be the Zoras' walkways, searching frantically now. But the Sage of Water was nowhere to be found. Although, just when all hope was lost, a different voice entered the echoes.
"Who's there?" It cried.
"Princess Ruto? Is that you?" Aleera cried back.
The two were standing near the opening in the waterfall, and they heard footsteps, which sounded more like flippers than feet. Then, a Zora stepped forth from the icy shadows. The Zora was a light blue with a rather strange shaped head. She had flippers on her arms and legs, and the twins found themselves mesmerized by this strange creature. Sure, they saw some Zoras when they came to the Royal Court, but that was always from afar.
She carried herself with an elegant flair, holding her head high. In the Zora's finned arms was a bag. Her blue eyes narrowed, but bounced back full at the sight of the girls.
"The Princesses of Hyrule and New Bearers of the Triforce!" Princess Ruto cried. "I've been waiting for you."
"Princess Ruto," Neyleen greeted back. "Where were you? My sister and I-"
"Oh, you found me now. That's all that matters." Ruto cut short. "Now, I believe you are here for my shards of the mirror?"
The Zora held out her arms with the bag. Aleera grinned and leaned forward to take the bag, but paused. Her fingers curled back into a fist, which she brought to her side.
"What about the test?" She questioned.
"Test? I don't give the Bearers tests!" Ruto answered with a grin. "If they are the true Bearers, they do not need a test. Take it now, please."
"No." The twins stated together.
"The real Sage of Water wouldn't…" Neyleen paused at Ruto's expression.
Her blue eyes were wide, as if a secret was just found out. Neyleen gasped.
"You aren't Princess Ruto! You monster! What have you done?" Neyleen yelled.
The phony princess grimaced and vanished. The girls gasped, jumping for the bag that fell to the icy floor. Aleera caught it, but it went through her fingers and down into the ice. She lay on the floor, staring down at the bag stuck in the ice.
"Wha..?" She muttered.
"Hmph, well you two are smarter than I thought." A voice mumbled. "You passed."
Aleera looked up to see the real Princess Ruto flop into the entryway. Her sister pulled her to her feet gently. The princess crossed her arms, staring the Bearers down. A look of disgust appeared on her face.
"You are Link and Zelda's children." She murmured, almost hurt. "I can tell. The eyes, the hair, and the outfit…" The Zora paused. "What are you waiting for? Would you leave please?"
The twins blinked.
"What? Leave? We need those shards, Ruto. You said we passed the test, which I guess was seeing that that was a fake." Neyleen said.
"Just because you passed doesn't mean that I'm going to hand you my shards." Ruto snapped, glaring at them now.
"We don't have time for this." Aleera growled.
"I don't have time for the children that should've been mine!" Ruto cried, her face suddenly contorted with anger. "Link and I were engaged, don't you know?" She didn't wait for answer. "But, NO. Sages cannot marry! And your filthy father left me for that royal snotty princess! I'm royalty, too!"
The girls stared, flabbergasted at what just occurred and enraged at what Ruto called their mother. Aleera opened her mouth, but Neyleen slapped her arm. They weren't aware of this "situation" between their father and the Sage of Water. Ruto kept mumbling to herself, her eyes wide with rage.
"Uh, Princess-?" Aleera started patiently.
"It's queen now, you idiot." Ruto snapped.
"Listen, you crazy fish lady," Aleera snarled, all patience gone now. "We do not have time for this. Lives hang in the balance. Just give us the shards so we can-"
"What did you call me?" The Zora cut her off, trembling.
"Must I repeat myself? I called you a-"
"Queen Ruto," Neyleen yelled, shooting Aleera a quick glare. "We need those shards. Please, we passed the test. And the Twilight Princess is dying as we speak. We have to go help her."
The Sage of Water paused, looking between the twins with a look of distaste. The sage slowly bent down, closed her eyes, and placed her hand on the ice. With a soft mumble, the bag started to vibrate. Then, it whooshed up from the ice and landed in the Zora's hand. She stood up, glancing at the twins' expressions with a slight smirk. She tossed the bag absentmindedly in the air, making the twins wince each time it flew up.
"We don't have time…" Aleera muttered intolerantly.
"Shush." Neyleen hissed. "Um, may I ask what happened to Zora's Domain? Why it's frozen?"
The bag landed in Ruto's hand, and she stared at it. Her fingers tightened around it, threatening to rip the bag. With a hiss, Ruto released her grip and lobbed the bag to Aleera. She caught it carefully, cradling it to her chest.
"A shudder ran through the lands." The sage explained softly. "I could sense it coming from…far. It reached the domain, and just froze it."
A sob caught in Ruto's throat, and she brought a hand to it, turning her head away slightly.
"From where, Ruto?" Neyleen asked gently.
"You will soon find out." Ruto answered quietly. "Now leave, please. I have much to do."
"My sister and I could unfreeze the domain." Neyleen offered, although her sister snorted at the idea.
"No, you two must get the other pieces. Go to the forest, Kokiri Forest. There the Kokiris will lead you to the Sage of the Forest."
And with that, the sage walked away into Zora's Domain. Neyleen stepped forward, but her sister yanked her back.
"You heard her; we have to get the other pieces." Aleera said, dragging her sister out into the midday sun.
Neyleen muttered a response, but Aleera shushed her. They quickly jogged to the horses, which were waiting rather patiently. Neyleen helped her sister up.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Aleera assured, although a pang of pain rushed through her body.
Her twin frowned, but said nothing. They had other things to worry about. The horses cantered as fast as they could to the edge of the field. Aleera put a secure hand on her saddle bag, which contained the shards. She could hear them rattle around, so she unclipped the bag and set it on her lap all while riding. Her arm cradled the bag with care.
Soon, the princesses made it to the forest's edge and the end of the Hyrule Field. They exchanged looks. Oh no, I am not leaving Oni again. Neyleen thought, clutching her horse's mane.
"Nellie…"
Her sister answered by kicking into the forest. Aleera sighed and followed. The princesses moved their heads back and forth, gazing into the never-ending trees. Leaves and pine needles crunched under the horses' hooves, which seemed to be the only sound. A few sounds of life were heard; the shudder of branches from a small animal that darted around, the chirps of birds flying over the canopies, and a very distant sound of laughter. Aleera grasped the bag harder, her heart suddenly beating rapidly.
"This place is creeping me out." She mumbled, glancing to Neyleen.
"Don't worry, we'll be at the-aha!" Neyleen paused and lifted a finger. "Look, there's the bridge that leads to the Kokiris."
There was a clearing up ahead that was cut off by a large, hollow log. Aleera squinted and saw that the bridge was through the log. Suddenly, a cry rang through the clearing. Neyleen hopped off immediately, stringing her bow as fast as she could. Aleera stayed on her horse, peering into the bushes surrounding the clearing.
"Neyleen," She murmured, pointing at some bushes.
Her sister stopped stringing the bow and looked over. There was a rustle, and then a young boy burst through. His blue eyes widened with fear, his face turning red. The freckles on his face stuck out like a sore thumb, but gave him an innocent look. His hair was the orange of a new autumn leaf. He wore green, leafy colors in his shirt and shorts, as was his hat.
"Hello there," Aleera said with a smile.
The boy winced, backing away slightly.
"No, don't go." Neyleen said gently. "We mean no harm." She noticed the bow in her hand and dropped it.
"What's your name, sweet?" Aleera asked before he could flee.
The boy glanced between them with such terror that Neyleen's heart threatened to crack. He opened his mouth, but there was another rustle in the bushes and a young girl now hopped out.
"Is it really you guys?" She cried, her blond, round ponytails bouncing behind her.
"Fado, shush!" The boy hissed, attempting to shove her back into the bushes.
"No, no! It's the New Bearers, Mido!" Fado beamed. "Saria said that they would come!"
The boy, Mido, dropped his arms. The twins glimpsed at each other, and then looked back at the two Kokiri. They were murmuring to one other. Mido looked back at the twins.
"You're Link's kids?" He asked in a surprisingly low voice.
"Uh, yes." Aleera answered, astonished at his voice still. "Yes, I am Aleera and this is Neyleen, my twin sister."
"And you seem to know why we came, too." Neyleen added.
Fado nodded excitedly. "Yes, Saria told me that you needed-"
The Kokiri stopped, her face suddenly white. She muttered something in Mido's ear, who turned white as well. They looked at the twins, but then disappeared. Aleera jumped down, but landed badly. She yelped in pain, clutching her side. Neyleen stopped stringing her bow once more and moved toward her sister.
"No, don't! I'm fine, focus!" As Aleera said this, the forest and the entrance to the village vanished.
Neyleen continued stringing her bow, and she raised it at the sound of a hiss. Aleera stood up slowly, hearing a sort of clacking noise. Then, a deku baba shot up from the black ground. The deformed plant hissed again and stretched its stem, snapping angrily at Aleera who was too far away for it to attack. Aleera, though, was more than close enough. She yelled, jumping into the air. Her sword slashed through the deku baba's stem, and its head bobbed down onto the ground, withering. She landed on her feet, but faltered and tumbled back down.
Her twin turned sharply at a howl and nearly dropped her bow. Standing before her were two giant wolfos. Neyleen quickly aimed and shot the arrow, which plunged into one of the wolfos shoulders. It roared, jumping back ever so slightly. The other yowled and charged past Neyleen and towards Aleera. The princess gasped as the wolfos slammed into her side. With a cry, Aleera swung her blade, her left hand glowing. It pierced the wolfos right in the chest. It yelped and flopped down, a pool of blood already forming around it.
But it wasn't done.
The fallen wolfos cried out and stood. Meanwhile, Neyleen was shooting as many arrows as possible into the second wolfos. By now, there were at least six arrows jutting out of the wolf-like creature, but it wasn't giving up so easily. It roared and jumped up, landing right on Neyleen. Its claws dug into her, but just barely. Neyleen quickly pulled out her dagger from her boot and cut whatever she could, which was the wolfos tail. It wailed and got off of her. Then, it threw its head back, howled once more, and its green eyes closed forever. It twumped to the ground, dead.
"The tail!" Neyleen cried, turning to her twin. "Hit the tail!"
Aleera only nodded, keeping her eyes on the last wolfos. It circled her from a distance, and then charged. And she was ready. With a huff, Aleera jumped up and over the wolfos. She slammed down her sword onto the tail, and the wolfos vanished. Both twins were panting from the adrenaline and the battle. They smiled at each other, but their faces fell at the others injuries.
"Are you-?"
"I am. Are you-?"
"Yeah. Just flesh wounds."
They grinned slightly, and the ground shook. There was a rumble of laughter, of wicked laughter. This test was not over. Neyleen ran over to her twin, grabbing her arm in case she fell.
"Bearers of Courage and Wisdom?" A deep, booming voice scoffed. "You do no stand up to the Bearer of Power!"
The ground cracked, shooting beams of light through them. The twins hopped, avoiding all the cracks they could. Then, the ground exploded. Light blinded them momentarily and they were faced with a phantom. Neyleen whimpered and almost fainted. Aleera jumped back another step with her sister, her eyes hard on this shadowy figure forming in front of them.
There was another laugh, and the form became clear.
Phantom Ganon. It was just like the evil Lord Ganondorf, only its face was like a skull. He was atop a horse that was covered with armor, leaving slits for its piercing red eyes. The phantom raised its lance and galloped at them. Neyleen finally released her sister's arms and jumped to the side, raising her bow. Aleera crouched, waiting for the phantom to get closer.
Neyleen's arrow was let loose and flew through the air, making a soft whistling sound. It landed in the phantom's arm, but it didn't even flinch. Her eyes widened as the horse changed course and came at her. Aleera hopped up and grabbed at the horse's rear. It huffed and went faster. Her fingers brushed the horse's tail, and the princess fell flat on her face, but got right back up. Neyleen yelped and leapt into the air, just in time for the horse went right under her. And she landed right behind the phantom. It roared and turned, trying to hit her with its long lance. Neyleen pulled the knife from her boot again and shoved it into the phantom's back. It bellowed, yanking it back out. It snarled and thrust Neyleen off the horse. She landed hard on her back, but she heard and felt no snap.
"Use your magic!" Aleera yelled as she ran past her sister.
Aleera bounded up and came down hard on the horse's backside with her sword. It whinnied and bucked, causing the phantom to almost fall off. Neyleen was now standing, her head slightly bowed and her lips moving silently. She raised her arms, her gaze now on the phantom. With a cry, she released the magic forming in her hands. Din's Fire. A fireball flew through the air and hit the horse. It bucked again and vanished. The phantom roared and disappeared as well.
"It's not over!" Neyleen screamed.
Phantom Ganon reappeared, by itself now.
"Far from over!" The phantom hollered, raising its lance.
Quickly, Neyleen strung another arrow and let it loose. It flew through the air and landed, straight and true, in the phantom's heart. It jerked forward, a roar tearing through the air. It fell on its knees, dropping the lance. The phantom raised his hands to his chest and closed around the arrow. With a grunt, it pulled it clean out. Neyleen widened her eyes once more as the phantom stood, blood pouring down its chest. Both watched cautiously as the phantom lumbered toward them, huffing and puffing. It lifted its arms and-
"YAH!"
Aleera, who appeared from behind the phantom, jumped up, shoving her sword through the phantom's chest. It yelled in pain, looking down in horror at the bloody sword pierced through him. Its right hand exploded with light and more cries filled the air. Aleera gasped, stumbling backwards while pulling her sword with her. The flash of light was gone, and the forest reappeared.
"You did it!" A young, happy voice cried.
The twins jumped in surprise and turned to the source of the voice. They snapped their heads back and forth, not seeing the person.
"Down here." The voice said more softly, closer.
The twins started again, and they looked down.
"Saria." Neyleen breathed.
Saria, Sage of the Forest, bowed her green-haired head. The little Kokiri looked back up at the twins, a smile spread across her face. She was clad in a green outfit with a sweater covered by another green shirt. A belt sat on her hips, and she wore shorts under that. She had boots on that went to mid-calf. And a dark green headband was on her head.
"So much like your father." She murmured. "You two did very well. I hate to put you through such trials, but I don't make the rules. Much magic flows in your veins." Saria paused here, looking at Aleera. "Maybe too much at times?"
Aleera reddened and opened her mouth, but shut it, not sure what to say. Saria nodded consolingly.
"Don't think much of it, Princess." Saria told her. "Now, my shards, what you came into the forest for."
The Sage turned towards the bushes where the two Kokiris were hiding before. She nodded, and they dashed out. Fado skipped over, holding a bag that was large to her in her arms. Mido followed her, not as enthusiastic, but with a thoughtful look. Fado reached the three of them, handing the bag to Saria who gave it to Neyleen.
"Good, now go on. Rauru is waiting." Saria smiled.
Then, a flash of light.