Snow Calibur
By ArchangelUK

Part 4: Stupid amount of time between chapters, but the climatic part was so long I've decided to split it in two. Here's the first half and the second and final bit of the story should be here within two weeks or so with any luck. The final pay off for Ivy's plan and the Maxi story is rather hard to write I'm finding. Also I got in some combat here (kinda) for those who were asking for some kind of fight sequence but I think it still fits in with the story. EDIT: Apologies for the format problem - should now be solved.

ArchangelUK (10/2/2005)

I do not own Soul Calibur or The Legend Of Zelda just this two by four containing great spiritual energy... SISTERRRRRRRRR!

Part 4: Last Minute Interludes

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

Their weapons were hung by the fire with care,
In the hope they not need them on this night so fair;

Though no mouse did stir one man stayed awake,
Through fear that his freedom an evil would take.

At guard he stood till the break of the dawn,
And for Siegfried Schtauffen relief at the morn.

No Nightmare or Soul Edge would deny him his stay
And soon this redeemer would see Christmas Day...;

Kilik's eyes flickered open as lark song whistled through the open window, he sat up and immediately regretted it as a wave of fatigue washed over him. The fact that he was in his bed at all caused uncertainty within him, the last thing he could remember was attempting to guide Maxi's soul pathways. A dangerous enough task in which an individual channelled mystic energies that allowed the second party to be made aware of their true self. He himself had never tried this exercise before, he remembered his sister being strongly chastised by the leader of the order for even suggesting its use on one occasion. Thank goodness he only gave Maxi a nudge in the right direction; he doubted feeling as he did now if he could have done anything else.

"Good morning."

Kilik rubbed his eyes and when they were able to focus he saw the form of Maxi at the window leaning on the wall next to it.

"Maxi?"

"You look terrible, if you forgive me for saying so." The pirate laughed and handed Kilik a mirror whose reflection proved exactly what Maxi had meant. Kilik's eyes were slightly sunken with exertion his hair and skin seemed slightly duller too.

"I feel as though I've been locked in a tavern for a week and forced to drink its entire cellar contents at knifepoint."

"Poseidon's beard Kilik, that's one hell of a description." Kilik kicked off the covers petulantly and swung his legs over the side of the bed groaning as he did so. "Well now, I believe that it's traditional for someone to say 'Merry Christmas' at this time so Merry Christmas to you Kilik!"

"Yeah, and a Merry Christmas to you too." Kilik grumbled and slung on his yellow robe from his pack, the open window telling him by the cold draught blowing through it he might be thankful for the fur edge. Maxi laughed again and went to leave.

"Well I'm glad you're okay after last night old friend, I'll let you get dressed properly and I'll see you downstairs. After all don't want you looking all puffy eyed for Xianghua now do we?"

Kilik responded by throwing a towel at Maxi's face but the grinning sailor ducked through the door before he could be hit. Kilik growled lightly and resumed dressing before a realization struck him, in his exhaustion he had completely forgotten to ask if the procedure had actually worked.

Wait a minute - old friend? Hmm, perhaps it did work after all; I suppose I'll find out in a few hours. He certainly seemed to be in a lighter mood than normal.

Chai Xianghua rifled through her rucksack trying to find where she had hidden her red dress, she often traveled in her normal light blue clothes which were surprisingly effective at keeping heat in however as today was a special day she thought she'd break out her 'evening' outfit. A cursory glance out of the window showed that the world outside was a winter wonderland, the crisp snow on the ground sparkled in the glow of the morning sun which poked above the trees in the middle distance as though unsure if it had the courage to rise this day. Xianghua smiled as she caught sight of the tall figure of Siegfried pacing around the corner, he had been on guard all night by the looks of things. He didn't appear tired though; Siegfried had long been trying to train his body to run without sleep. Presently he could manage over 72 hours straight without the need for rest, which included his current condition. She frowned; he shouldn't have gone out in the cold as weak as he was.

Xianghua came away from the window and began to take off her night things, a sudden bang next door made her jump and a long string of angry French filled the air. The young woman giggled, it seemed Raphael was struggling with Siegfried's present and that didn't surprise her for she couldn't even lift it. The fact that she already knew what it was, was due to her present being linked with his. It had been a good idea of Xianghua's to team up for the German, besides Raphael it seemed had a good eye for being resourceful. No doubt the gift would also give Siegfried a much needed confidence boost; she knew that with his injuries he felt like a drain and hindrance, add to this his guilt and the man was an emotional wreck. Naturally he wasn't - at least Xianghua didn't think so; and she was glad however that it was kindhearted Kilik that found Nightmare and not Raphael. She doubted Raphael would have seen the re-emergence of Siegfried from Nightmare's shadow and even if he had would have not cared. Carrying out his suggestion at the time that he should be 'finished now while the chance is ours'. That Siegfried had agreed with him only served to solidify her belief that this man had a chance to be live a free life once again.

She slipped quietly down the stairs, taking her sword from its position over the fireplace; she would practice before she took breakfast. Quickly returning to her room she began to get dressed out of her night things. She looked one more out of the window, wiping away the interior condensation with a closed fist, the smear of clear glass revealing the young Hylian practicing intently with his blade. Her lips curved into a small smile, Link never stopped practicing - ever. He never ever seemed to relax, at least in the way that she considered to be relaxed. There was always something there, some burden that weighed heavy on his shoulders, she wondered if the young man had ever truly known peace. Yet even if he had, it must've been a long time since he had truly been Link the Hylian and not Link the warrior.

His training regime was tough, and in the deep snow was something closing on sadistic, if not masochistic. The blade of the Master Sword sparkled in the light of a winter sun, reflecting off and illuminating his pale face. His eyes twinkled brightly, bright enough for her to see from her vantage point. He thrust the sword outwards, before slicing across himself in a deadly arc down to his right. Link instinctively it seemed using his own strength and dexterity as well as the sheer weight of the sword to flip himself into the air after it. Link's feet lashed outwards in a savage kick aimed at head height before landing in a crouching position. Still using the movement of the downwards swing his trailing foot sneaked out as he spun viciously around in a move designed to take an opponents legs away. Darting in a roll to his left, as if anticipating that the move failed Link regained his footing before leaping in to the air again in a series of three consecutive backwards somersaults. On the final one he did not make contact with ground but rather a tree trunk which he pushed off against to dive back forward thrusting his shield outwards to slam into his invisible foe. Xianghua watched in a amazement as Link fell back into a kneeling position, sword outstretched behind him. She'd seen him do this before, the first time she'd seen it he frightened her and the second time she had watched she had done so in abject awe. Link's spin attack was surely something to behold, the young man literally becoming a whirling dervish of death as he leapt up into the air, it was mind bending how he leapt so high and got so many turns in. This time though something else happened.

Link's eyes seemed to narrow as if something was worrying him, she could see him tense his hand gripped the swords handle until his knuckles went white as the driven snow that surrounded him. The young man yelled a war cry as his weapon spun around once, twice and on this time it seemed to ignite into living flame which danced around after the blade. It was a waltz of pure rage, a clawing, spitting inferno of red and gold fire that Dante would have been powerless to describe. He took off and he spun three more times in the air, no ordinary mortal could produce such magic and no ordinary mortal could survive such an assault let alone stand in the middle of it. It was as beautiful as it was deadly and as Link landed and placed his blade back in his scabbard Xianghua saw he now stood in a circle of snow free ground. Little wisps of steam meandered into the air around him. He breathed outwards, a little cloud forming from his lips and opened his eyes looking directly at her, and smiled.

She smiled back and waved, she had not seen him smile for a while and it was good to see again and after that display rather reassuring. His smile became a grin and he started to laugh which puzzled her for a few seconds until her eyes went wide in realization: She was standing at a window and was still in a state of only partial dress...

Ivy adjusted the thimble on her finger and did a few more stitches, cursing the carriage clock on the table and muttering rather unseasonable words. Being a seamstress was never one of the items on her life goals list and it had taken her what seemed like forever to adjust the item Siegfried was going to get as his present from her. She just hoped he liked it after all the work she'd put in. Her senses, sharp and keen from years of living on the edge picked up movement from outside her door; the sound confirming her suspicions that the majority of the household was now awake.

A sleepy yawn coupled with the gentle creek of dainty feet on the staircase gave her cause to believe it was the youngest of them. Proof positive came in the loud exclamation of 'Oh wow!' or something similar in Talim's native tongue. That made Ivy smile warmly, Talim much to her annoyance was often treated as a child and so was understandably angry when she was 'sent' to bed by herself and Raphael. It was for a good reason though. Siegfried despite his injuries had somehow managed to lug a sizeable tree back to the residence. With the young Talim in bed the Europeans had decorated it and set it by the fireplace - not too close obviously, they didn't want an accident on their hands. After their labors Siegfried was more than satisfied with the outcome, even Raphael had to admit that it looked most festive under the circumstances.

Distracted she slipped and pricked her thimble-less digit. "Ow." She sucked her finger, removing the tiny droplet of red from its place of origin. "Oh well, at least I can now sat I've bled to get this too him."

To Be Continued...


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ArchangelUK 0:o)