Snow Calibur
By ArchangelUK
Transcending Christmas and the world, a tale of snow and souls fan-ficticiously retold, I do not own Soul Calibur or The Legend Of Zelda just this second hand sword with a blinking eye I picked up at a flea market............ rrrrrrrrrrrraAAARRRRGGHH! SOULS!!!!!
Part 1: Warm Hearts In A Cold Climate
The small fire flickered in the seemingly arctic winds, of course they weren't
in the arctic but they were still frightfully cold. Looking up into the oncoming
gusts the noble if flawed swordsman Raphael Sorel immediately regretted it and
slammed his eyelids shut as a surprisingly painful wall of snowflakes smashed
into his face. Grimacing he turned his back on the entrance to the cave they
had found and sought out the giggling form of Talim who had obviously been subjected
to yet another one of Xianghua's oh so funny jokes. Raphael had grown
weary of them after the second week but the teen it seemed couldn't get enough
of them, Raphael mentally shrugged - it apparently took all sorts.
"I don't suppose," He said to Talim, "That you could do something about this? Or at least give us an indication when it's going to stop?"
Talim smiled but sadly, "I am not familiar with these winds, they do not seem to trust me. However I sense we should not be delayed much longer, other than that there's nothing I can do." She patted the space next to her, "Come, sit by the fire."
Raphael shook his head sadly, "Someone needs to stand guard."
"It is my turn." Maxi said getting up from his place next to Kilik, the pirate and swordsman nodded at each other and exchanged places. Raphael passed him his long cloak and Maxi thanked him. Kilik as Maxi left to take his place at the cave entrance noted Xianghua's pained look at their old friend and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. The young Chinese woman gave a half smile, but Kilik did not return it.
The cave consisted of various fighters, all of whom were on a quest to destroy Soul Edge the sword previously held by the warrior Azure Nightmare. It had been some time since the dark knight had been in possession of the blade; Nightmare had been set upon by a truly unholy alliance of the evil golem Asteroth and dread pirate Cervantes. Now they each possessed one of the two Soul Edge blades and had last been seen heading in the direction of a western Russian province. The injured Nightmare, free of the influence of the sword had mostly regained his humanity. The tortured and scarred soul that was Siegfried Schtauffen was free once more. Pity had stayed Kilik's hand when he had found him, bleeding in the middle of a gully.
So the party consisted of Kilik, Xianghua, Siegfried, Talim, Raphael, Maxi who was still on Astaroth's trail, the white haired Isabella Valentine whom now went under the name Ivy and finally the curious green clad warrior Link. Link was still very much a mystery, Siegfried could talk with him a bit but his Hylian language was still very much an out of bounds area for the rest. So it seemed was the universal English tongue the other fighters shared, so far the only phrases the others could deduce was 'Saei' meant 'soul' and 'Miie' meant 'snow'. Link could only say their names with the exception of Xianghua whom he couldn't pronounce properly.
Link sat a way back from the fire with Siegfried and Ivy; Kilik glanced up at the English woman who was making sure Siegfried stayed awake so the possession of Soul Edge couldn't take him over again. Link had taken a very protective stance towards the knight for reasons that had eluded all but Talim and Kilik; Link saw something in the man that compelled him to stay by his side. What Kilik also saw was Talim sneaking quick looks at Link when she thought no one was looking, he smiled it seemed even in this ghastly sub-zero cave someone's heart was radiating a lot of heat in a certain direction.
"I have never seen weather like this." Raphael grumbled, "Especially not in this part of France, it makes me feel like a poor host that the climate of my country welcomes you all like this."
"You're hardly a host now are you Raphael?" Kilik raised an eyebrow.
"It matters little, I know I may have lost my home and title but I am still a nobleman of France. The blue blood of the Rouen provinces flows through my veins, so it almost a physical slight that this infernal snow storm stops us so."
"Don't worry yourself Raphael, I've never seen snow or anything like this before. I'm happy to be here with all of you." Talim flashed him her trademark grin and Raphael felt better about himself for a moment, when she smiled like that she reminded him of Amy.
"My blood is blue too, but that's because of the cold more than the country." Ivy sighed.
"That's because you're all far from the fire." Chai Xianghua pointed out, "There is room enough for you all there isn't need to separate yourselves."
"Oyi ses quargtot, esci cou tar geigh?" Link asked confused, the entire conversation lost on him.
"Fire." Siegfried, still very weak pointed with his claw at the burning scrub and dead wood. Link nodded in understanding, secretly glad they had finally seen sense and were joining the others and helped his friend over to the warmth.
"Tang veu corr cou quiart Siegfried wror gheinf?"
Sitting down the blond haired man replied somewhat labouredly replied, "Ciet rem zui rein heint zac Talim furg qi." Kilik noticed Talim almost jump for joy when Link sat down as apparently requested between the German and her.
"What did he say?"
"The rough translation was 'I told you so'." Siegfried muttered, Kilik allowed himself a small smile. Ivy's sword Valentine sensing the heat uncoiled and after a brief display of happiness curled itself around the perimeter of the fire, it seemed even it had been chilly.
"Still I wonder," Xianghua said out loud, "I wonder if the fact Soul Edge is growing stronger isn't a reason for this storm."
"Soul Edge's influence spreading to the climate itself?"
"I don't know about that." Siegfried said, "But I suppose it is a possibility. You said you have never known weather like this in your country?"
"No. It's unheard of." Raphael confirmed.
"Then it's a possibility we should consider, and one that could prove to be a future obstacle for us should this storm ever let up and let us leave."
"Nature against us?" Kilik questioned, "The very heavens turning their wrath on us?"
"Should another take control of both blades at full strength and especially someone gifted with dark arts like that fell creature Astaroth. I wouldn't put anything past that sword - I should know after all."
Talim shook her head furiously, "No, that cannot happen. The God of the Winds is strong above all and would never fall under the influence of that beast." She wrapped her hands around her legs and tucked her knees under her chin, shivering.
"Kilik was only paraphrasing Talim." Xianghua pointed out.
Kilik apologised rapidly, "I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's okay." A small tear wended its way down the wind priestess' cheek.
"Wrei! Cray sum Talim carn ooum heint zum alloch tur mei erochra xa padeinsta praaa!" Link glowered at Kilik as though he was ready to skewer him on his sword and the young man instinctively checked where he'd left Kali-Yuga.
"Easy." Siegfried admonished and Link seemed to understand that but turned to Talim for conformation.
"Talim quais'um rein?" He whispered to her quietly, unsure as to what exactly had been said and blushing slightly at his apparent defending of her Talim simply repeated that she was fine. Link got up and picked up his shield, facing Kilik he said. "Talim prai saei gu'threik pol ki-hera zum gaftok. Illi a'ca!" Before stomping off to join Maxi at the cave entrance.
Siegfried blinked, "Well now..."
"What did he say?" Kilik demanded.
"I didn't get part of it." He lied, "Something like 'Talim's soul is gentle and you would be wise not to hurt her'."
"I did say I was sorry." Kilik sighed and poked at the embers with Kali-Yuga.
Talim meanwhile was trying to make her knees cover as much of her face as possible, her profusely glowing cheeks especially; unfortunately she failed having as she did Xianghua next to her.
"Looks like someone's got a boyfriend." She said in a singsong voice.
"I do not!" Talim said annoyed, Xianghua just giggled.
"Grr"
"Still it's cute the way he stood up for you like that." Ivy smirked, "And you should learn to watch your words in future Kilik, I'm most surprised at you, you big bully."
"What!?" Kilik asked in disbelief.
"Just kidding." The Englishwoman replied in a passable impression of Xianghua.
"Hey!"
"Don't worry about it." Talim said turning to the lambasted Kilik, "I know you didn't mean it like that."
"I'm just glad it wasn't me for once, it's usually me who upsets someone." Raphael's gift of being able to more damage with careless words than a thousand swords at their backs had been evident on a couple of occasions on their journey. Amy had always said his arrogance would get him in trouble.
"Still you have succeeded in angering him." Siegfried said stroking his chin with his human hand, "Odd, he doesn't anger easily as a rule maybe he is a bit enamoured with our good wind priest here."
Talim turned red to the tips of her ears, huffed and pulled a blanket around her earning muted chuckles from around the campfire.
"Well at least we know it's winter." Xianghua said, frowning at the cloud of condensation her breath made in the air. "I can barely keep track of time with all this travelling and the seasons are different in different parts of the world."
"And it could be worse I suppose, I fear my country could be in a poorer state than this." Ivy admitted, "Not a good way to be spending Christmas at any rate."
"Indeed." Raphael nodded solemnly, "Yet you must be a mite upset Ivy, it could perhaps be the only white Christmas you'll ever live to see - and you won't see it in your home."
"A White Christmas? In London? You must be joking"
"Christmas?" Siegfried suddenly looked up, "Is it that time already?"
"Yes. In fact it's December the twenty-third, Christmas Eve is tomorrow."
Siegfried shuddered; Nightmare had done a lot of unspeakably foul things on Christmas Eve's prior, in the past it had been the monster's favourite time to gather souls, to steal them when they were at their most joyous.
"The time has no meaning for me anymore." He said sullenly.
"Nonsense!" Raphael stood up, "It should be a time of celebration for everyone, and I insist we all have some kind of Christmas celebration in two days. Agreed Ivy?"
Ivy smiled that knowing smile of hers and nodded, "It may be our last after all, and it's been many years since I've been in company on Christmas Day."
"Siegfried?"
The man swallowed, choosing his words carefully. For some reason he was always on edge when Raphael asked him a question, there was something about him he didn't entirely trust. "My memories of Christmas are bad ones, I would prefer them if there was something nice to replace them."
"Then it's agreed." Raphael announced happily, "When this storm dies down we shall see about finding some proper lodgings, I know of a farmhouse about six or so miles from here that belongs to an old friend."
"How old?" Ivy looked suspicious.
"Well old as in he was one of those who turned on me and I had to introduce his throat to my rapier." Raphael waved a hand in apology, "But I'm sure it's deserted."
"Er, excuse me." Xianghua waved at the jubilant Frenchman, "What is this C-Crisht mash?" The cave went silent as Raphael, Ivy and even Siegfried looked at Xianghua as if she'd grown an extra head. "What?"
"You've never heard of Christmas?"
"No what is it?"
"Oh my God she's serious!" Ivy's jaw almost hit the floor.
"WHAT?" Xianghua now embarrassed and somewhat annoyed glared at the Englishwoman. Kilik raised his hand.
"Actually I've never heard of it either."
Talim shook her head, "Same here, sounds like fun though whatever it is."
"I have." Maxi called from the cave entrance.
Siegfried although knowing the answer called to his friend, "Link, zum sou gr'snarr quigöt cor Christmas?"
The Hylian looked back at him with a blank look on his face. "Swah?"
"I take it that's a no from our elfin friend." Ivy massaged her temples. "I think one of us should explain."
Seeing as Siegfried wasn't going to start going all Charles Dickens on her any time soon and Raphael although wanting to volunteer didn't know as much about the origins of Christmas as he was letting on. Ivy sighed and cursing the fact she wasn't comfortable talking to an audience not to mention as a scientist and alchemist she took issue with several of the things Christmas stood for began none the less.
"Christmas, is a celebration that happens every year on the twenty-fifth day of December in the Gregorian calendar that's the calendar of Europe and the western hemisphere to you. It is however much more than a great big party, it is a religious based celebration - I suppose baring in mind your Asian roots we shouldn't have been surprised at you not knowing about it. I suppose though you are all at least familiar with the religion known as Christianity."
Kilik and Xianghua nodded, Link who had once more joined the group had sat again between Talim and Siegfried who was freely translating as Ivy went.
"The old ones spoke once of it." Talim scratched her head, "But they didn't know much about it."
"Then prepare to surpass your elders Talim." Ivy took a sip of water from a canteen, "Christianity is the major religion in Europe I would imagine it was that which we - Siegfried, Raphael and myself believed in. Now there are various different variations of Christianity, most countries are divided over the issue of which is best principally the two main religions Protestantism and Catholicism. England is a Protestant country, France and I imagine Raphael is Catholic."
"Correct."
"Now many wars have been fought over this issue and in the end it's pointless."
"Agreed," Raphael nodded, "Each to their own beliefs."
"So far this isn't sounding like something with a celebration attached, just lots of wars and killing." Kilik frowned.
"I haven't got there yet." Snarled the scarlet and white warrior, "Now then all these various religions are in the end Christianity and fundamentally the same, the main base of which is that many, many years ago a child was born of a virgin who was the son of God himself. He was called Jesus Christ, who over the years taught people right from wrong and performed miracles; he spread the word of our God and in the end was ultimately killed by those who saw him as a threat."
"If he was the Son of God how was it he died?" Xianghua blinked confused.
"Well he was crucified and died for the sins of man, for the love of the human race, however he rose again a few days later but that's a different celebration entirely. In our cultures this is all very significant and so every year we celebrate the day of his birth and give thanks for his sacrifice."
"December the twenty-fifth?"
"Well, we aren't exactly sure that's when he was born but that's the day we celebrate it on."
Kilik leaned forward with interest, "I see, so what happens with this celebration?"
"Well, houses and streets are decorated with lights and baubles and fineries, each house tends to have a Christmas tree which too is dressed up." Ivy continued on in this manner for about an hour explaining about the role of Father Christmas (or Pere Noel as Raphael insisted he be called) and more importantly the truth about him, Ivy not seeking to pull any festive wool over the inquisitive eyes of young Talim. She described stockings and holly, reindeer and about the giving and receiving of presents, as well as other traditions such as Yule logs.
"Every year we celebrate Christmas we have a large dinner to give thanks, traditionally we eat a large turkey and have a Christmas pudding for desert."
"What's a Christmas Pudding?" Talim asked intrigued.
"More to the point" Kilik asked, "What the hell is a turkey?"
"A turkey is a large bird, a bit like a chicken - in fact very like a chicken. Except bigger."
"And tastier!" Raphael agreed.
"Now a Christmas pudding is essentially a steamed pudding containing lots of fruit like raisins, cherries and flavoured with alcohol such as brandy and it's often coated with custard. It's juicy and scrumptious and only eaten on Christmas." Ivy licked her lips savouring the memories of the tastes and smells; Raphael, Kilik and Xianghua were positively drooling. Siegfried seemed to be in another world entirely and Link well, he was grinning ear to ear liking this concept greatly and wondering why on earth there wasn't a similar celebration in Hyrule for Din, Farore and Nayru.
"Jerto cun il'sya Christmas pudding warth megin wer meii por segffad qu'iiro!"
"Link says he would very much like to try this dish when the snow storm goes."
"Well, it looks as though our friend might get his wish." Maxi said returning to the fire and tossing Raphael his cloak, "The storm is dying down and I imagine we should be able to get out of here within the hour. Then it'll be a case of getting to this farmhouse of yours Raphael."
"Indeed"
"Well, it's your turn on guard now Kilik." Maxi turned to the martial artist, "Let us know when it's safe to travel."
Kilik nodded and cast a wary glance to Xianghua, she understood his meaning. Since the time they had found Maxi again their relationship with him had been strained and it was straining the bond between Kilik and Xianghua too. They both so wanted Maxi to regain his lost memories, the memories of them and the first Soul Edge quest four years previously. Xianghua was heartbroken by the revelation and was determined to stop at nothing to help Maxi but Kilik was tempered by the understanding that if they pressured Maxi too much it could distract him from the task at hand. Distraction in the war against Soul Edge meant death to most and when it came to Astaroth, Maxi had all the distraction he needed already. Kilik cared for Xianghua deeply (much more than he was prepared to let on) and loved Maxi as a brother. He too was mortified by his amnesia but had to live with it for now, as he took up his place on guard he suddenly realised that he had another problem. He needed to give Xianghua a gift on this Christmas Day thing, and the only thing she would want he couldn't get her. Pondering this situation he looked at Kali-Yuga and wondered if maybe he couldn't give Maxi a little nudge in the right direction at least.
The rest of the group rested for now, Link played his Ocarina at the request of Siegfried - it was late and the music soothed him. The others got some rest with the exception of Talim who pretended to rest while actually staring dreamily at Link and Ivy who watched the young wind shaman from behind partly closed eyes. A small smile graced her cherry lips as she observed her, and a plan was slowly coming together in her head.
Valentine, uncoiled on the floor, sensed its mistress's
plan and spun its segments smugly. It would be a very good Christmas this year
verrry good.
To Be Continued....
Please Review!
ArchangelUK 0:o)
