Chapter Twenty

*You know, this is a lot longer on Word*

Shocked and startled, Aleera and Neyleen stared blankly back at the sneering Dezaia. She moved next to the Twili, giggling manically. The twins half-expected the Gerudo to twist her hand around his, but, thankfully, she didn't. Dezaia only looked back at them with an amused expression. Zant's laughter mixed with her's, bouncing off the walls.

"Surprised, I see?" Dezaia said, raising her glowing right hand up. "They don't call it the Triforce of Power for nothing, my dears."

"Amazing, isn't she?" Zant bragged. "She created a new mirror out of her own power. It's incredible, truly."

The girls said nothing, only gave dark looks. The initial shock wore off, and both changed into a more threatening stance. Dezaia and Zant neither erased their pleased expression, but they tensed up slightly. Then, they laughed yet again, rolling their heads back with enjoyment.

"This is even better," Aleera snarled, stepping forward with one foot. "We can get rid of you both at the same time."

"Hah! Hardly!" Zant mocked, leaning forward with his hands on his hips.

"You don't stand a chance," Dezaia added, crossing her arms humorously.

Again, the girls didn't answer. Neyleen immediately released an arrow, which narrowly missed Dezaia's ear. The Gerudo cried out in anger, but Neyleen had already lashed out again. This time, the arrow would've hit Dezaia, but Zant waved his arm and the arrow shattered. His mask had snapped shut, and the Battle of for the Triforce began.

Aleera ran up the dais, but was literally jumped on my Dezaia. The Gerudo screamed and pounced, knocking Aleera hard onto the ground. The two wrestled violently, and Aleera clipped Dezaia in the chin, which was followed by a revolting crunch. Dezaia yelled, hopping off the Hylian. Aleera slashed her sword, and the Bearer of Power disappeared, reappearing near the main doors. Aleera dashed toward her.

Meanwhile, Zant had raised himself in the air, laughing at the whole spectacle. Neyleen glowered up at him, notching an arrow, but it splintered before she released it. With a cry, Neyleen dropped her bow. She cursed at the Twili, and then remembered-

Light arrows.

Her mother had summoned them for her father before, so why couldn't Neyleen do it? She closed her eyes, murmuring quickly under her breath and hands outstretched. Her lips moved faster and no sound seemed to be coming forth anymore. And then, there was a flash.

Floating in Neyleen's hands was a quiver of light arrows. She thanked her mother before discarding her normal quiver and slinging the one full of light arrows on. With inhuman speed, Neyleen grabbed her bow and an arrow, notched it, and released it with a swift twang of her bow. The light arrow grew brighter and brighter as it whistled through the air before sinking itself in Zant's left arm. The Twili roared as the arrow exploded in a flurry of light. He cried out, waving his arm in a desperate attempt to lodge the arrow free. The light arrow seemed to be pulsing, like it was alive.

"You little-!" Zant bellowed, finally shaking the arrow free, but another was let go by Neyleen.

This one was aimed for his head, but Zant vanished and his laughter-filled moans could be heard eerily in the air. Neyleen pivoted around, watching for any sign of him. And then he reappeared right behind her, smacked her bow out of her hands, but he disappeared once more before Neyleen could try anything. She jumped for her bow, and it disintegrated at her touch. Cursing, Neyleen reached behind her and grabbed the light arrows. She held two in each hand, and then she saw him overhead again, laughing hysterically. Neyleen was ready to throw one of the arrows; however, Zant suddenly halted and sent purple energy balls swiftly towards her.

She gasped, rolling out of the way just in time. The purple balls exploded on contact, leaving a smoldering stain where Neyleen just stood. Zant cackled, charging up another purple ball. Neyleen shouted at him, and when Zant looked down at her, she threw an arrow up at him. It wedged itself in his leg, and the Twili shrieked, pulling the arrow out. Then, he slammed onto the ground. He flourished his arms about, and two cleaver blades materialized in his hands. Neyleen started, reaching for her short sword at her side. And then, he was on her, flailing and hacking his blades in frenzy.

Neyleen tried to defend herself as best she could, but she felt weak from summoning the light arrows. She warily countered his attacks only for so long until he slashed open her torso. The princess screamed as the healing wounds and scabs were torn open again. She fell to the ground, clutching her chest in a desperate manner to still the blood flow. Zant laughed over her before vanishing.

Across the room, Dezaia and Aleera continued to duke it out. Dezaia pulled a sword out of the air, swinging it with ease. Her sword met with Aleera, and the two glared into the other's eyes.

"Give up!" taunted the Gerudo. "You don't stand up to my power!"

For an answer, Aleera spat in her face. Dezaia screamed, shoving her sword forward with incredible force. Aleera fell back again, and Dezaia slammed her sword's point down. The princess rolled away as her enemy's sword clanged into the ground. Dezaia wiped her face furiously with the back of her hand, moving towards Aleera, who was still on her back. Aleera jumped back up, pulling a dagger from her boot. Before she could throw it, though, Aleera was yanked from behind. She yelped and saw that Zant had grabbed her, and was now holding her to the floor.

Aleera tried to squirm free, shouting curses at them both, but it was useless. His hands were holding her shoulders, and Dezaia brought her foot down on Aleera's shins. Aleera's scream covered up the sound of her snapping bone. The painful sensation traveled through her whole body, and a single tear trailed down her cheek. Upon hearing her sister's scream, Neyleen rolled her head in the direction.

"Aleera!" She cried, watching as Dezaia raised her foot again. "No!"

Dezaia grinned, and she broke the princess's other shin mercilessly. This time, both Aleera and Neyleen released a shrill cry. Neyleen watched uselessly, crying out to her sister. No, it can't end like this…

Zant laughed louder, his mask snapping back. His face was contorted by insanity.

"Finish it, my dear!" He yelled at Dezaia. "One little swipe of your sword, and everything will be ours!"

Dezaia looked down at the broken princess, her sneer slightly fading. She cocked her head, watching at Aleera's face scrunched up in pain and despair. The Gerudo felt a strange feeling. Was it…compassion? What? Dezaia heard fiercely in her head. You are the Bearer of Power. You show no mercy! Finish the job! Zant looked at her with impatience.

"What are you waiting for? The Twili New Year? Come on now!" Zant growled, digging his nails into Aleera's shoulders.

She released a satisfying squeal, which made the Twili chuckle. Dezaia, all the while, stared at Zant like she saw him for the first time. Her right hand, holding the sword, twitched with hesitation. Zant's chuckle was cut short as he saw this. He narrowed his bright, big yellow eyes at her.

"Should I do it?" He hissed at her rather threateningly.

Dezaia didn't answer. She looked between the twins, both of whom were falling in and out of consciousness. Neyleen was lying in her blood, which was now a fairly large puddle. She was holding her chest with one arm and reaching out to her sister with the other. Her lips were moving wordlessly, and her eyes were half closed. Aleera was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling in quick bursts. Her shin bones stabbed her skin, but they didn't break through. She had her eyes closed, mouthing Neyleen's name.

The Bearer of Power's hand started to glow a faint white, and her sword hand faltered. Her sword lowered, and Dezaia brought a hand to her hot forehead. Zant scoffed, disgusted.

"You're pathetic!" Zant yelled.

"No…" Dezaia murmured, now looking straight at him. "I just realized I've been-" She swung at Zant, only just missing his neck.

Zant let go of Aleera and stood up, gripping his swords. Dezaia attacked again, this time hitting the mark. Her sword went straight through him, her tip sticking out his back. Zant made no noise, his mouth open in silent exclamation. Dezaia twisted her blade.

"I've been on the wrong side," Dezaia whispered to him and pulled her sword free.

And then, the Twili Lord fell to his knees. With a dumb-founded look, Zant collapsed on his side, and finally, he died. Dezaia spat on his face. Some the salvia landed in his forever opened yellow eyes. She kicked him a few times for good measure, and Zant was dead. She glared down at him for a little bit, but was brought back to reality by a soft, weak voice.

"What the in Nayru's name was that?" cried Neyleen feebly.

"That doesn't matter right now, you need help." Dezaia said, rushing over to Neyleen.

Neyleen winced, trying to scoot away from Dezaia. But the Gerudo knelt down and held her still. Dezaia closed her eyes, moving her hand over Neyleen's wound. She murmured an incantation, and Neyleen expected to explode or something, but she was amazed to find that her chest was closed. Dezaia got up and went over to Aleera before Neyleen could say a word. Neyleen sat up quickly, but cringed, anticipating the pain from her wound, but she felt nothing. Her chest was totally healed. She crawled over to her sister and Dezaia, who was crying softly.

"Oh goddesses, I'm so sorry," Dezaia said to Aleera.

She received no response, and Aleera's breathing got slower. Her face was pale and wet with sweat. Dezaia quickly put her hands as gently as possible on Aleera's shins. At her touch, Aleera wailed, thrashing her head back and forth. Neyleen took her sister's hand.

"Shh, she's helping, Aleera," She told her twin, tenderly brushing her forehead.

"This will hurt," Dezaia told Neyleen.

Neyleen nodded, and Dezaia closed her eyes, whispering the same incantation she did for Neyleen. Aleera opened her eyes and released a scream as her bones snapped into place. Neyleen squeezed her hand, murmuring words of comfort to her. Dezaia tightened her grip, which made Aleera scream louder, but her legs were healed. Dezaia let go of Aleera and started to sob.

"I didn't w-want any of this!" cried the Bearer of Power. "I-I don't know what came-came over me. I just-I just-"

Dezaia broke off, bringing her hands to her face. Her shoulders shook violently with sobs. Aleera sat up slowly, staring first at her legs and then at Dezaia. Both princesses watched the Gerudo with caution and shock. Neither knew what to say, but they didn't have to say anything because Dezaia fell over, unconscious.