A lone figure stood on top of the highest tower of the ice castle, 
contemplating what was soon to occur.  That morning, a ship had arrived at the 
island, the first to discover this place in many years.

	She idly fingered her lance.  For a short while, she had considered 
creating an iceberg and sending the ship to the bottom of the bay, like she had 
that Church frigate a while ago.  But this ship did not fly the Tri-fan, and 
among its passengers she had sensed a familiar presence: Shale, her oldest 
friend and rival.  This, combined with the feelings of unease she had been 
having recently, meant that something important had occurred in the outside 
world.

	Since then, she had been watching the progress of the three as they slowly 
made their way to her ice castle.  A young man, a woman, and a girl, yet she was 
unwilling to discount any of them.  Anyone who was desperate enough to come to 
this wasteland, presumably to seek her out, would be possessed of a strong and 
determined spirit - a warrior's spirit.

	As she continued to watch their progress, she noted the naginata that the 
young man carried.  An almost gleeful smile spread across her normally 
expressionless face.  It had been so long since she had the chance for a proper 
duel!  Now she was looking forward to testing the strength of these travelers.

	Brunhild, Champion of Ashgar, Valkyrie of the Nordrir and Knight of Ice, 
slowly descended the tower steps.  Once more, her spear would sing in battle.

	And perhaps the time of her redemption had arrived at last.


                   -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 
                   FINAL FANTASY LEGACY
                   Knights of the Round

                 Begun by Brian Stricklin 
                 This part by Kate Malloy

             Chapter 46: Solitude and Resolution
                   -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 


	"This place be uncommonly quiet," Jil remarked as the trio continued 
walking through the canyon.

	"Not necessarily," Kyle answered, slightly adjusting his grip on Shizuka.  
"It's a desert, so most of the local wildlife won't come out until nightfall.  
And as for that-" He jerked his head in the direction of the ice castle.  "I 
can't imagine that it's terribly hospitable.  Still, we should be prepared for 
just about anything."

	"This one agrees," Shizuka softly added.  "Surely whatever may await in 
there has had adequate time to prepare."

	"Both of ye are so reassurin'," Jil grumbled, reaching into her pouch to 
make sure she had an adequate supply of firebombs.

	Kyle chuckled.

	"And just what do ye find so amusin'?" Jil asked.

	"Nothing in particular," Kyle admitted.  "I don't think I've ever been 
accused of being reassuring before, though."

	"Hmph."  Jil returned to checking her pouch.

	They continued on in silence, until they reached the other side of the 
canyon.  As they rounded a bend in the path, the ice castle came back into view, 
looming over them.

	"It's definitely impressive," Kyle remarked, looking up at the massive 
structure.  "I didn't realize how close we were to its base."

	Shizuka narrowed her eyes.  "This one does not see a way in."

	"What do ye mean?" Jil asked.  "There must be a way ta get in!"

	"We've already seen that the Knight of Ice or whatever else is here 
doesn't appear to like visitors," Kyle reasoned as they continued to approach 
it.  "Shizuka's right; I can't see any doors, and the windows look like they're 
made of solid ice.  Transparent, but quite thick."

	"Not sure if my firebombs would be havin' enough power to get through one 
of those walls," Jil commented.

	"Shizuka?" Kyle inquired.

	The young ninja bowed her head sadly.  "This one does not believe that her 
skills would be sufficient."

	Kyle stopped walking.  "Great.  We make it all the way here, and we're 
going to have to turn around and go back because we can't find an entrance.  In 
that case, we-"

	He was interrupted by a sudden rumbling from the castle.  A small portion 
of the wall facing them began to crumble, forming a small, tunnel-like entryway.

	"Ye spoke too soon," Jil said, smiling.

	"I suppose I did," Kyle answered.  He turned his head to look at Shizuka.  
"The entry's not high enough for me to carry you in like this.  I'm sorry."

	Shizuka hurriedly shook her head.  "Do not feel that way on this one's 
account.  This one believes that she may have rested enough to be able to walk 
again."

	Carefully, Kyle helped her down, and watched her take a few experimental 
steps.  "Well, you look fine.  But if it starts to hurt again, let me know right 
away, all right?"

	"This one shall do that.  This one also believes we should hurry, since it 
is now evident that whatever guards this castle knows of our presence."

	Kyle led the group inside the castle.  As he walked through the hole in 
the wall, he couldn't help feeling that he and the others had just passed some 
sort of test - and that there were several more to come.

*****

	In a secluded cavern, the knowledge of which was limited to but one being, 
there was darkness.

	Then, without any light, sound, or any sort of fanfare, that being was 
suddenly present.

	Siegvin slowly lowered himself to the floor, gasping for breath.  Again he 
cursed this corporeal shell that had been forced upon him.  His limbs were 
covered in cuts and bruises, his clothes were mere tatters... thankfully, his 
mask was intact this time.  Still, he could not believe that one human - a mad 
one at that - had done such a thing to him.

	Repeatedly he had underestimated these mortals.  While he might have 
killed a few of them, it seemed to spur the others on.  The next time he met 
them, any of them, he would not hold back.  They would suffer the full might of 
he who was once Odin.

	But first, he needed time to recover, as much as it deepened his shame to 
admit it.

*****

	Despite being made of ice, the floors of the castle were not slippery at 
all.  Kyle was extremely thankful for that; his one memory of ice skating seemed 
to involve a lot of falling down.  Marcine had taken to it easily, though, 
gliding across the frozen surface with grace and beauty.

	Marcine...

	"Did ye say somethin'?" Jil asked, her breath visible in the cold air.

	Jolted out of his reverie, Kyle shook his head, then took a look at his 
surroundings.  The architecture was amazing.  The room they were currently in 
resembled a great hall, with high arched ceilings and delicate wall carvings, 
all of it made of ice.  Set into the walls in decorative patterns were tiny 
crystals which gave off a bright, bluish-white light.  Still, he was uneasy; 
they had traveled through several of these incredible rooms and had neither seen 
nor heard any sign of the castle's occupants.

	Shizuka had insisted on scouting ahead; now she walked back towards him 
and Jil.  "There are stairs in the next hallway," she informed them.  "This one 
has not sensed any traps or obstacles between there and here."

	Kyle nodded.  "Thank you, Shizuka.  I guess there's nothing to do but keep 
going until we find the Knight of Ice."

	"Or it finds us," Jil remarked.

	In a few minutes, they reached the stairway.  It curved around, so that it 
was impossible to see more than a few steps ahead, and was narrow enough to 
require the group to walk single file.

	"I'll go first," Kyle stated.  "Shizuka, you follow me, and Jil, bring up 
the rear."  Without waiting to hear their assent, he started up the stairs.

	"Look out!" Shizuka cried.

	Kyle jumped backwards just as a large icicle thudded into the steps where 
he had been standing just a moment ago.  He suppressed a shudder as he looked at 
it.  "Okay.  Obviously, we've got somebody's attention."

	Jil frowned.  "I dinnae like this.  Seems we're bein' herded towards 
wherever the Knight is waitin' for us."

	"But we have no choice," Kyle stated.  "Can you get this out of our way?"

	Shaking her head, the captain answered, "Nay, the firebombs be not precise 
enough.  I couldn't take this without meltin' part of the stairway as well."

	"This one is able to help."  Shizuka stepped forward while Kyle got out of 
her way.  She reached out one hand, whispering a few words in her native tongue.  
A small ball of flame shot from it, immediately melting the icicle yet leaving 
the stair underneath it mostly intact.  The water from the icicle then froze 
over the hole that the falling ice had made.

	"The famed Ryukin ninja arts?" Kyle asked.

	"That was but a small demonstration of this one's unworthy skill," Shizuka 
said.

	"Seemed worthy enough ta me," Jil answered.  "Guess we'd better be movin' 
on then, but this time keep yer eyes on what's above ye as well as what's ahead 
of ye."

	Nodding, Kyle led the group onward.

*****

	Inside the control room of the Excelsior, yet another argument was taking 
place.

	"You can't operate a vehicle of this size and mass on just a few 
'enchanted' rocks!" Bolgan yelled.  "That's utterly preposterous!"

	"Attachin' Floatstones to the hull of the ship is the fastest way of 
gettin' it airborne again!" Edrin insisted.

	Kalya placed a calming hand on his arm.  "Edrin, you may have the greatest 
knowledge of levitation magic ever, but you have absolutely no common sense.  
What would happen if the stones started malfunctioning?"

	Edrin hung his head, dejected.

	"However," Kalya continued, "it might be possible to augment the ship with 
a few Floatstones, thus taking some of the load off the steam engines.  In the 
worst case, the engine would experience a short instant of strain if several of 
the stones began to malfunction, but it should be easy enough for either Edrin 
or I to re-enchant them."

	Bolgan fought back a groan.  "So this would mean that you two are going to 
be on the ship when it's airborne again?"

	Kalya grinned.  "Absolutely.  Wouldn't miss it for the world."

	"I know!" Edrin suddenly exclaimed.  "We can enchant the hull of the ship 
itself!"

	"Excuse us for a few minutes."  Kalya tightened her grip on Edrin's arm 
and dragged him off.

	This time, Bolgan gave in and groaned.  If this was Mother Cecilina's idea 
of help, he'd hate to see what would happen if she were actually angry with him.

*****

	"This has to be it," Kyle stated as the group stood before a door 
comprised entirely of opaque ice.  "Everything has led to this point.  The 
Knight, or whatever else is waiting, has to be behind this door.  I'm going to 
count to three, then open it.  Get ready."

	Jil and Shizuka silently prepared themselves as Kyle drew his naginata.

	"One... two... three!"  Kyle slammed into the door with his shoulder.  It 
disappeared in a flash of snow and a slight breeze.  His momentum carried him 
into the room beyond, where he came to a sudden stop.

	The room was empty of living people, but a dozen ice statues lined the 
walls, six to the left and six to the right.  Far ahead, on a dais at the end of 
the room, a thirteenth statue loomed over them all.

	"D'ye think they're goin' ta come ta life?" Jil said quietly as she and 
Shizuka slipped in behind him.

	"I'm not sure," he whispered back.  "No use taking chances, though."

	Shizuka's eyes widened as she quickly walked over to the closest left-hand 
statue.  She motioned for Kyle and Jil to follow her.

	When Kyle drew near enough, he recognized the figure.  "Shale."

	In response, the Heartstone in his Naginata pulsed once.

	Jil examined some markings at the base of the statue.  "These be Ashgar 
Runes," she stated.  "And it do say 'Shale,' here, clear as day.  I wonder..."  
She moved from statue to statue, reading the name on each one.  "Thor... 
Percival... Madonna... Genji... Gawain... Gaia... Lumina... Kirin... Johannes... 
Ivan... Gilgamesh."  She stopped at the farthest right-hand one.

	"The Knights of the Round," Kyle realized.  "But I would have expected 
Gilgamesh to be the one up there."  He pointed at the large statue on the dais.

	All three walked up and stood before it.  The statue was of a man, clad in 
elaborate battle armor, a mask covering his face, and a viciously jagged sword 
in his right hand.  He sat atop a huge, multi-legged steed.

	Jil didn't need to read the runes to realize who it was.  "Odin."

	"The work on these is truly astonishing," Shizuka said in amazement.  
"This one believes that any sculptor would give his or her own soul to possess 
such talent."

	"I have."  The voice came from their left.  The three quickly turned to 
find a tall, stately-looking woman advancing towards them.  Her long white hair, 
not indicative of age, was pulled back from her face and clasped with a silver 
band.  Her eyes were a piercing blue, like a clear sky above a snow-covered 
field.  She wore silver-blue armor and carried a long spear in her left hand.

	"You... created all this?" Kyle asked, awed.

	"Yes.  My greatest beauty and my deepest shame.  For ages I have remained 
here, in isolation, using my skills to make this.  It is lovely, but ultimately 
futile, for some day the desert will claim it again.  Such is my penance."  She 
turned to regard the statue of Odin.

	"Ye are the Knight o' Ice, then," Jil observed.

	A few moments passed in silence before the woman finally responded.  "I 
am.  But before I joined Gilgamesh and his band, I already had the title of 
Valkyrie.  Chosen warrior-maiden of Odin.  It was he who I ultimately served... 
and he who ultimately betrayed us all.  I continued that betrayal when I 
listened to Madonna and helped convince the Knights to join with Darovan."

	"But you must have been hurt, then, and confused-" Kyle began, but the 
Knight cut him off.

	"That is no excuse!  I was a warrior!  A warrior should always remain in 
control of her emotions!"  Her knuckles had gone white around the shaft of her 
spear.

	"But you were also a human, weren't you?"

	"Do you know what it feels like to have everything you have ever believed 
in, everything you aspired to, everything you held with the utmost respect, 
suddenly become wrong?"  Her face was red now, and she was nearly shouting.

	Kyle stood and regarded her, unflinching.  "Actually, I have."

	The Knight's eyes widened briefly.  "You speak the truth," she said 
quietly, her icy calm descending once more.  "I can see that in you."  She 
paused, seemingly considering something.  "From the moment I sensed you arriving 
at this isle.  You intrigue me, strange warrior.  Might I ask your name?"

	"Kyle Cavanaugh."

	"And I am Brunhild of Ashgar, Kyle Cavanaugh.  Will you do me the honor of 
challenging me with your blade?"

	Kyle bowed.  "My lady, I accept."

	Jil opened her mouth to protest, but Shizuka laid a hand on her arm.  
"This one believes that it is a matter of great import for the Knight of Ice.  
It would be well not to interfere."  She led Jil to the rear of the dais while 
Kyle and Brunhild walked to the center of the room.

	Dragoon and Knight faced each other, weapons at the ready.  For a moment, 
they resembled the statues that lined the room.  Then, at some unspoken signal, 
both of them began the battle.

	Brunhild swung her spear at where Kyle had been standing a second ago, but 
he had already activated his Boost Armor and leapt into the air.  Quickly, he 
dove back toward her, naginata extended.  With a swirl of icy air, she spun 
backwards, parrying his attack.  He backed off, his weapon in a guard position.

	The Ice Knight raised her arm.  "Icicle Lance!"  A trio of sharp icicles 
flew from her outstretched hand towards Kyle.  He dodged the first and knocked 
the second away with his naginata, but the third shattered across his 
breastplate.  The sheer force of it knocked  him back, gasping for breath.

	Spinning her spear in an intricate pattern, Brunhild advanced toward the 
winded Dragoon.  Silvery light flashed from it, making it hard for Kyle to see 
exactly where it was.  With a sudden startled realization, he brought his 
naginata up just in time to block her swift strike at his head.  Blue and silver 
sparks flew from the two weapons as they connected.

	Kyle pushed the shaft of his naginata against the hilt of Brunhild's 
spear, forcing her to take a few steps backward.  She responded by quickly 
freeing one of her hands, then tossing a handful of icy powder at him.  Eyes 
stinging, Kyle retreated a short distance.

	On the dais, Jil and Shizuka watched, Jil fingering the firebombs in her 
pouch.  "I be wishin' I could give Kyle some help," she said quietly.  "But I 
know.  'Dinnae interfere in a matter o' honor,' ye're going to say."

	Shizuka simply observed the battle intently, saying nothing.

	Shaking his head a few times to clear his eyes, Kyle saw that Brunhild had 
not moved.  Was she waiting for him to attack first?  He decided that he would 
oblige her, and used his Boost Armor to become airborne again.

	"Ice Storm!"

	Kyle was knocked from the sky by a short yet powerful blast of ice 
particles and wind.  He slammed onto his back, his Boost Armor protesting the 
sudden landing.

	Brunhild said nothing as she advanced toward him once more.  Kyle 
struggled back up, leaning heavily on his naginata.  With another elaborate 
flourish, she thrust her spear toward him.

	This time, Kyle somehow managed to get the blade of his weapon underneath 
the shaft of hers.  With one quick movement, he sent it spinning out of her 
hands.  Not wanting to give her a chance to retrieve it, he swung at her left 
side, forcing her to dodge and step farther away from where her spear had 
fallen.

	She flung another handful of powdery snow at him.  Kyle shielded his face 
with one hand, but it gave her enough time to rush back and reclaim her weapon.

	Discouraged, Kyle quickly tried to think of his next move.  Something 
began to stir in the back of his mind, some piece of knowledge that would help 
him if he could just figure it out.

	In the meantime, Brunhild spun her lance over her head three times, and a 
huge ball of ice formed just above where Kyle was standing.  Quickly, he 
scrambled back.

	He felt something hard behind him and realized that she had been forcing 
him backwards for the vast majority of the battle.  Now he had reached the rear 
wall, and there was nowhere else he could go.  If only there were some way he 
could stop her movement...

	As if in response to his unspoken wish, the answer suddenly became clear.  
The Heartstone in his naginata glowed a brilliant blue as he raised it high into 
the air, then thrust it, blade-first, into the ice floor.

	"Suisei!" he cried.

	Cracks spread from where the blade was embedded in the floor, quickly 
reaching where Brunhild stood.  Before she could react, the floor underneath her 
turned to water, and she began to sink into it.

	Afraid of what would happen next, Kyle quickly yanked his weapon out and 
watched as the floor resolidified.  Brunhild was now trapped up to her knees in 
ice.

	Surprisingly, she suddenly started laughing.  "You always did have to get 
in the last word, didn't you, Shale?" she asked.

	"I'm sorry," Kyle said.  "I didn't... I wasn't sure what that would do."

	"Do not apologize." Brunhild shook her head.  "A warrior must never be 
afraid to use whatever advantages he or she has in battle.  You have bested me, 
Kyle Cavanaugh.  I am only sorry that my rival has beaten me to it, for I would 
have been honored to have my Heartstone adorn your blade."

	Shizuka stepped forward.  Using the same spell that she had cast earlier, 
she freed Brunhild from the ice.

	"Thank you, Child of Ryukin," Brunhild said.  "Genji had much pride in his 
homeland, as did I.  But unlike me, his pride was justified."  Slowly, she 
raised one hand to her breastplate.  A soft glow pulsed from her chest, and a 
minute later a pale blue stone rested in her hand.  She held it out to Shizuka.  
"Please bear it in my name to where it can join his once more."

	The young ninja accepted the stone, gazing upon its glow.

	"What'll happen ta this place, if yer goin' ta be with us?" Jil asked.

	"It will slowly melt away and disappear," the Knight of Ice stated.

	"A shame.  'Tis truly lovely."

	"But you will always remember it, won't you, Captain Jil Fallensand?" 
Brunhild inquired.

	Jil smiled sadly.  "Aye.  I will."

	"Good."  Brunhild's form was starting to waver and fade.  "Johannes... the 
last of our number... he resides in the Alchemist's Observatory.  However... I 
do not know how to reach him, save growing a pair of wings..."

	With that, the Knight of Ice disappeared, leaving only her Heartstone in 
Shizuka's hands.

	"How could we get wings?" Kyle contemplated.

	"Guess that means we'll be headin' back ta La Verde," Jil reasoned.  "The 
flyin' ship thet crashed there... they were workin' on how ta get it back inta 
the air."

	Kyle nodded.  Hopefully he'd be able to find some way to contact Marcine.  
Perhaps she was even on her way there, though he couldn't think of an actual 
reason why she would be.

	Shizuka placed the Heartstone of Ice in her belt pouch, then took Griever 
from her sash and regarded it solemnly.  "This one continues to keep her 
promise, Mistress Mika.  Perhaps soon she shall see you again."

*****

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Compared to the past few chapters, this is quite short, but that's all right, 
since finally I managed to do exactly everything that I wanted.  Not all FFL 
chapters have to be mega-K epics. ^_~

Thanks go to Terence and Brian for ideas and discussion.  Thanks also go to 
Scott for looking over the first part, and again to Brian for prereading the 
whole thing, and again to Terence for prereading the whole thing and catching a 
few silly mistakes.

I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Kate
9/24/01