Light Over Darkness

Beams of shimmering magic blasted through the last two creatures - boom, boom - leaving a soft scent of roses in the air.

The courtyard fell silent.

But Malora still stood, untouched.

She raised her staff again. The green flame blazed high.

"You think I need shadowlings to stop you? You're playing dress-up with borrowed power."

"We're not borrowing anything," I said, stepping forward. "This power chose us."

Malora sneered. "Then let's see what you really are without it."

She hurled a blast of green magic toward me. I crossed my scepter in front of me, bracing-

But Kaitlyn jumped in and deflected it with her ribbon whip, spinning like a dancer.

"You're not hurting our girl," she snapped.

Miranda landed beside me. "We stand together."

A spark lit in my heart - our magic humming in sync.

I raised my scepter high.

"Princess Strike!" I shouted.

All three of us glowed - my golden sand and petals, Miranda's rose-light, and Kaitlyn's icy sparkle combining into a wave of pure energy.

It slammed into Malora like a tidal wave.

She screamed - not in pain, but in frustration - before vanishing into smoke, her staff clattering to the courtyard stones.

The silence afterward was heavy.

Then Kaitlyn exhaled. "Okay. That was intense."

I nodded, chest still rising and falling. "What... what was she doing out here?"

Miranda knelt by the spot where Malora vanished and picked up a scorched piece of parchment left behind.

Her eyes narrowed. "This isn't over."