Chapter 13

He was put into surgery for his ankle, it was already badly damaged but whit him participating in the fight against Stigma Weapon, after he had just escaped from him, he had done a lot of damages to his feet, the doctors had no other choice than to operate him. The doctors told him that, in the worst case scenario, they would have to amputate his feet. For one moment when he woke up he was afraid he had lost his feet, but to his relief he still has both his feet, although it will take some time before he will be able to use both of them again.

He was sad he couldn't be at Kaim's funeral, at that time he wasn't aloud to leave his bed, not even for a funeral and till this day he still wasn't aloud to leave the hospital. Despite that he couldn't leave the hospital, there was never a dull moment in the Estharian Hospital.

After his surgery Laguna was one of the first to visit him, although he had only visited him once and he didn't stay that long, he is still proud that his president himself had taken the time to visit a wounded soldier. A soft clasp on his shoulder made him already feel a lot better.

His fellow soldiers wouldn't believe that the president had visited him the day before, nor would they believe that he had fought alongside him, but they also couldn't explain how else Cody would sustain such injuries. They were all making fun of Cody, to which he already had gotten used to and if the roles were reversed he would have joined them, but he was still getting tired that they didn't believe him. When he was about to burst out in anger and tell them to leave his room Kiros walked through the hallway, and when he saw Cody he walked into his room to help him out. He told his fellow soldiers roughly about what happened, they were all dumb folded that Cody had spoken the true and from that moment they all treated him with a lot more respect.

That reminds me, I still need to thank him for that.

Kiros had been on his way to see Ward, and it was only then that Cody remembered that Ward was also in the hospital. He had asked the doctors for permission to visit him and if he would take it easy and stay in his wheelchair, a nurse would bring him to Ward. He had taken it easy, but he had stayed with Ward for hours, playing every card game they knew. One day they had been playing cards when someone walked by their room and he invited himself in. Ward hadn't complained and Cody had raised his eyebrows. The man told him who he is and since then they had become friends, Nida also was in the hospital, but his luck is that he can leave.

One day Nida had come into his room followed by a doctor he hadn't seen before. Nida had introduced them and he told Cody that she is the one who saved his feet. Cody didn't know how to express his thanks, but she had only laughed and told him it was no big deal.

Even Sarah had visited him, that visit is edged in his memory. Two days ago she had walked into his room and he could see that she had been crying. He can't even begin to comprehend how she must be feeling; loosing your husband is never easy but especially if he was your husband for thousands of years. She didn't speak nor did him; he just took her hand and gave her all the support he could give her. They had been sitting like this for some time when Sarah started to talk; she talked about Kaim and their daughter. She told him the names of their grandchildren and their children and so on. She talked about them with so much love that he envied those children, they always had a loving person in the world while he spent most of his time alone, when he was a child the only relative left was his grandfather, but with him gone he is truly alone. She even spoke about the time she had spent with his grandfather. She talked and talked and he listened until he fell asleep. He hopes she will come again soon.

Being in the hospital mostly meant you're not as good informed as otherwise, but for Cody it was his luck that he was in the hospital. If he could work he wouldn't know what was happening, as a soldier you are on an only need to know basis, and he didn't need to know much. But with spending some time with Ward and Nida he had found out that Squall had found Slade Flynn's location and that they would bring him back to Esthar. If he has the chance he would like to be in the courtroom to see justice being served.

Just one more day.

With nothing else to do but wait he decides to go see Ward, he wants to win his money back which he had lost yesterday and if he is lucky, even Nida will come along and play a game.

One more day for you Slade Flynn.

He was bored out of his mind.

For the last two days he had been hiding in Raine's old bar, keeping a lookout for the mansion, the mansion in which Slade Flynn resides in. Two days of waiting and watching and more waiting and nothing else. He wasn't aloud to do anything to provoke that man. After what he did to his friend he wanted to get him himself and drag him back to garden, but he can't, or so Fujin reminded him not too friendly.

When they took refuge in this abandoned bar they saw Slade Flynn enter the mansion, and he hadn't left since then. Fujin had asked around in town if they knew who he was but most of them didn't even know the mansion was being used again. Rajin had checked around the mansion and he hadn't found any other entrances then the front door, if Flynn wanted to leave then it should be through the large doors in the front.

Rajin couldn't believe that was the only exit in the mansion, Slade Flynn is smart, he wouldn't be hiding in a place where there is only one exit, there must be some secret passage somewhere but that can be anywhere.

Fujin had talked to an old lady by the flower shop and she told her that she had been a housekeeper for the former landlord. She guaranteed that the only exit is in the front, the former landlord was a suspicion man and had blocked the back entrance, nobody could get in or out from that side of the mansion.

But even with all this information they hadn't see Slade Flynn leave the mansion, but they also hadn't see him inside the mansion. True, you can't see the entire mansion from the bar, but still a large proportion is clear and according to the former housekeeper the rooms in the front are the living room and the bedroom, rooms which he should use. Or does he know he is being watched?

But none of that matters, just a few more hours and everything is going to be alright. Squall had contacted them and told Fujin they were on their way to Winhill. Because he didn't dare fly to close to Winhill they would fly to the outskirts and walk the rest of the way. That would slow them down drastically but they couldn't afford for Slade Flynn to see them flying overhead and him running away again.

Rajin stomach start to grumble and he glances to the bar where Fujin is fixing them some diner. He had been sitting in the same chair for hours and his but hurt, but thankfully his shift is almost over. With his mouth watering Rajin looks back to the mansion and is shocked to see a shadow of a man standing in front of the windows.

"FU!" Rajin yells and in an instant Fujin is leaning on his shoulder to look at the spot which Rajin points at.

"It's him," Rajin hears the frustration in Fujin's voice. Like himself she had wanted to go after this man herself but she had her orders and she will follow them. "I wish Squall would hurry."

Me too. Although Rajin is sure the man in the mansion is Slade Flynn he can't help but feel a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. If he is here we can finally get the man who is responsible for all this shit.

With their dinner forgotten both SeeD watch Slade Flynn until he walks back into the room and closes the curtains, and it is only then, that the smell of burned toast reaches their noses.

"SHIT!" Fujin exclaims and she runs to the now black toast. Frustrated she throws the black beauties in the trashcan and makes new ones.

Rajin doesn't leaves his eyes from the mansion while he eats his toast, it is only after Fujin gently nudge him that he leaves his spot in front of the window and Fujin told him to get some sleep. "It's a long day," was all she said and he knows she is right. It will take some hours before the others are here and if they arrive he needs his full strength.

Two hours later he was roughly woken up by Fujin's shout, "They're here!"

Stretching his body, he climbs out of the bed and puts his boots on. His Bō staff is lying on the ground within arms reach and he takes his familiar feeling staff in his hand. Jumping down two steps at a time he arrived just in time to see everyone walking in Raine's bar.

He thinks it is quit ironic that they use the same bar that Squall's mother used to run, and if what the villagers said was true, Squall was born in.

Seeing Squall he was a bit afraid of his reaction, he did use his car and left it at a deserted train station, but Squall didn't mention any of it. Maybe he doesn't know yet?

Beside Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, Zell, Xu and Seth entered the bar. Rajin was a bit surprised that Seifer wasn't here; he thought he would want to be here but on the other hand he is glad he isn't. They have enough strength here; he should be with his wife who needs his strength. But he is wondering where one of their other friend is, one he would have suspected to be here. Wouldn't she be flying the Ragnarok?

"Where is Selphie? Ya know."

"She is waiting in the Ragnarok," Rinoa said finally after nobody answered Rajin's question. "Together with Ellone."

He had wanted to ask more but the look Fujin send him made him stop.

"Is he still inside?" Squall asks Fujin.

"He is," Fujin nods her head. "He hasn't left the mansion for the last two days."

Seth leans on the back of Fujin's chair to have a better look at the mansion. "Is he alone?"

"We think so, ya know."

"We haven't seen anyone else near the mansion," Fujin said. "Nor does anyone in this town know that the mansion is used again."

"That's strange," Zell mumbled. "But that doesn't change anything, right?"

"No it doesn't," Squall uncrosses his arms and put the curtains aside to peak outside. "We will wait until nightfall, and then we make our move."

Seth relieves Fujin from her watch and she goes up the stairs to get a few hours of sleep. The others are too anxious to get any sleep so they just settle in the bar.

Rajin walks around the bar and kneels down to search for something in one of the kitchen cabinets.

"What are you doing?" Zell asks leaning over the bar to have a closer look at what Rajin is doing.

"I am searching," Rajins voices is muffled. "For this," he said proudly and shows Zell what he had found.

Zell is dumb folded when he sees a package of hotdogs. "Where did you get those?" He almost demanded to know.

"Um, just around the corner is a shop, ya know," Rajin replied a bit confused. "I bought them." Zell looks to get, well Rajin can't really describe how Zell is looking, but it is scaring him.

Laughingly Irvine comes to Rajin's aid and places a hand on Zell's shoulder to calm him down, "You'd better make him some hotdogs' fast, before he get murderous."

Rajin swallows before saying, "I'll make them right away!"

Seven SeeD and one ex-immortal move slowly towards the mansion, using the shadows to make their approach unnoticed. They move quietly alongside the bushes until someone stumbles over a branch.

"Shit!" he exclaims when he almost stumbles and would have dispose their cover if it wasn't for Xu who grabbed his jacket and prevented him from falling.

"Quiet Zell," Xu hisses while still holding onto his jacket.

"Thanks," Zell whispers back and follows after Irvine towards the mansion. Xu follows his example and they continue their slow trek.

They had waited for two hours before the sun had finally set and everyone had prepared for this final battle, Xu had the feeling he wouldn't cooperate and come with them quietly. They never do, why would he be different?

Before all of them even made an attempt to get inside the mansion, Seth and Xu had checked the mansion and came to the conclusion that they couldn't get through the windows as their plan was. Bars were placed for every window on the lower floor and there was no way they could get to the windows on the top floor. Because the front door was the only way in they had no other choice but use it, even if Slade Flynn will know that someone is coming for him.

The door was locked, of course, so Irvine and Squall place some explosives on the door and hide behind the wall. Counting with his fingers from five to zero Xu presses her fingers to her ears to reduce the sound of the explosion.

Bang!

A large piece of the heavy wooden door is blown away and smoke circles around the door.

We've come knocking on your door. Xu thinks while grabbing both her handguns, waiting for Squall to give them the clear to enter the mansion.

When the smoke is gone Squall and Irvine enter the mansion and within a minute one of them called, "Clear," and everyone climbs through the gaping hole in the door. Everyone spreads around in the hall but Slade Flynn is nowhere to be seen.

"We need to search the other rooms," Xu said. It never will be easy, does it?

Seth remained behind in the hallway and the others were searching the entire first and second floors but they still didn't find him, nor did they find anything that would point at his stay here, or anything that would explain why he is hiding here in the mansion.

"That leaves the basement," Zell said while cracking his knuckles.

There was a reason why they hadn't checked the basement yet. A stone spiral staircase so small only one person can go up or down at a time and it is a long way down in the dark. If they go down in the dark they can loose their footing easily and fall down a long way, but if they go with a light Slade Flynn will be able to see them coming from a long way. He then will have enough time to lay a trap for them.

Seeing as the first one is not an option they had all unanimous decided they will go down with a few torches. Because they will be vulnerable they will walk into a trap they need to figure out who will go first. Before anyone can say something Seth had stepped up.

"I'll go first," Before anyone can interfere she continued, "I've already lived for a long time," and that explains all.

Seth goes down first with a torch in her hand and Irvine makes up the rear with the rest in between them.

Because the stone steps of the stair are small and slippery their progress down is slow, the light of the torches shine upon everyone's faces and Xu can see the fear and angst but also the determination to finish this once and for all.

They are relieved that nothing happens at the bottom of the stairs but they also don't see Slade Flynn.

Putting their torches in the holders Xu looks around the room. The entire basement is actually a giant wine cellar, rows and rows of large barrels are dividing the large room in multiple corridors. The moonlight shines weakly through small windows high in the walls, too small for anybody to climb through but even before these windows are bars placed.

With no other choice but to split up again and search in the corridors it is Xu and Rajin who finally found Slade Flynn. Rajin calls the others, but Xu has the feeling that something is wrong. Slade Flynn is hunched over a bottle of red whine and he ignores them, purposely? Xu doesn't know.

When everyone is standing around them, still with their weapons drawn, Slade Flynn slowly lifts his head up and he spoke with an inhuman voice.

"YOu've fALlen FOr iT aGAiN. THIs Is tHe SecONd tiME, dOn't YoU EveR LEArn?"

"What's he talking about?" Xu asks confused as she sees Squall's, Rinoa's and Zell's shocked expression. "What does he mean?"

Before any of them can answer Slade Flynn stands up, still with the bottle wine in his hand, and he stumbles toward Fujin who is standing closest to him. Fujin steps away just in time to avoid the flying bottle which was aimed to her head. Wasting no time Fujin throws her Chakram at him, she has hit his left arm and her Chakram fly's back into her hand again. The shots of Irvine's Exeter and Xu's handguns follow Fujin's attack and he is hit multiple times in his chest and stomach. But the blood that is seeping from his wounds is not red.

"It's Gerogero!" Squall screamed when he found his voice again.

A Gerogero? Wasn't that the same monster that pretended to be President Deling during the Timber Mission? But if this is a Gerogero, where is the real Slade Flynn?

Everyone, except for Seth, had heard about that mission and the monster Squall, Zell and Selphie had to fight on their first SeeD Mission, but Seth didn't need an explanation to know that this means trouble.

Xu's eyes shift back to the Gerogero and Slade Flynn's body is transformed before their eyes. The foul stench accompanies his transformation and Xu is trying her best not to puke. It is like watching a man pulling of his own skin; all which is left of him are his muscles and blood veins.

"It's an undead monster," Rinoa shouted and she starts to cast cure magic at the monster. "Physical attacks won't work against him."

Damn. Xu hoisters her guns and she starts to cast Firaga, she hadn't stock many cure spells and she didn't want to use the few ones she has left. While Rinoa, Fujin, Zell and Xu are casting magic spells Squall and Seth fight the Gerogero head-on and Irvine is standing ready with potions, echo screens and eye drops.

It didn't take long before the first barrels were shattered and wine spills down on the floor. Squall and Seth are having trouble keeping their footing and they stand back while the others still use their magic.

Xu was already feeling the drain of using to many magic spells in such a short time, she knows she can't hold this on much longer but it seems the Gerogero is much stronger than the last one some of them faced. She had to think of something, and fast.

The wine!

Looking around her she knows they must be able to use the wine in their advantage, and suddenly an idea formed in her head. "Everyone fall back!" Xu screams while she draws her guns. As soon as everyone has moved to the other side of the room Xu starts too shoot the barrels next to the Gerogero , the wine spills on him and he is drenched in rum, vodka or wine, Xu doesn't know and doesn't care. Die, you son of a-

"FIRAGA," Xu's scream fills the entire basement and Xu hopes the others understand what she is doing and are ready to deal with the aftermath.

Her spell wasn't aimed at the monster, but at the puddle of liquor he is standing in. Her spell ignites a spark and the wine is starting to catch fire. Xu runs through the corridor to the exit of the room to stay in front of the fire which is consuming the Gerogero.

Next to the last barrels the others are looking shocked at the damage that Xu made and after they see the monster falling down on the floor they all start to cast either Water or Blizzage spells.

Thankfully they were able to put the fire down quickly before it could destroy more of the mansion.

Zell stamps on the last few embers and he walks to where Gerogero body should be, but it is gone. All that is left is a huge puddle of water mixed with liquor. "Where is the real Slade Flynn?" Zell asks while kicking the water.

Everyone had the same question, but none of them has the answer to it.

Not knowing what else to do here the make the long and quiet trip back up to report what they found, or rather what they didn't find.

Irvine was the first one to climb the stairs and at the end he suddenly stops. Xu was walking behind him and wonders why he is waiting. Looking past him she sees a door, Irvine tries to turn to knob but nothing happens.

There wasn't a door here before, was it? Seeing the others face, as far as she can see them on the spiral stairs, none of them saw that door before.

Irvine gives Xu his torch and he tries to open the door with force but the door won't bulge. "We can't get out, we're locked in!"

Not again.

After they had eaten diner in a fancy restaurant Seifer and Quistis walk hand in hand on the Esthar main road, Ayla is hopping in front of them, singing a song.

It can't get any better than this, Quistis thinks.

Since she was back again she had slept for almost two days in a row, so it wasn't that strange she was hungry when she woke up. She had showered and dressed and didn't have to wait long for her daughter and husband to find her. When Ayla noticed her mother she ran to her and jumped into Quistis arms, hugging her tightly. Soon a pair of strong arms is also wrapped around her, involving Quistis in a family hug. After hearing Quistis' rumbling stomach Seifer had proposed to get some diner, Ayla mentioned a small diner where Edea and Cid took her and she found that food very yummy!

"A gil for your thoughts?"

"Just thinking," Quistis replied. "About everything that happened, you know."

"I know," Seifer said softly and Quistis can feel the pain in his voice, the pain that Seifer had been going through the last few weeks. She had been blaming herself for the hurt she put her friends and family through, but before she could apologize to anyone Rinoa had pulled her aside and told her that nothing of this was her fault and she was not to blame. She believes Rinoa but it still hurts to know that you hurt your loved ones, intentional or not.

"But you're back, that is what matters most."

Quistis stops and turns Seifer's face towards her own to place a soft kiss on his lips. "Thanks," Quistis said after she pulled away.

Seifer says nothing but kisses her, but they are interrupted by their daughter's scream of attention, "Hurry, I want to go to the park."

Quistis feels Seifer's smile forming on his lips before he parts from her and he runs after their daughter.

She can't believe she is so lucky to have her own family, she never thought she would get married, or let alone have a child.

Seifer has finally caught up to his daughter and swings her in the air, carrying her high in the air until they arrive in the park. Seifer puts Ayla down and she runs straight to the swings, Seifer and Quistis sit down on a bench nearby. Seifer drapes his arms around her shoulder and she leans into him.

Both of them are content with watching their daughter play.

"Did you know that Selphie is pregnant?" Quistis asks out of the blue.

Seifer nods his head, "Irvine told me before they left. When did she tell you?"

"On the flight back to Esthar," Quistis replied while shifting closer to Seifer. "She knew she was pregnant and still she took the risk to lose her baby to help me."

"That's who she is, you know that."

"I do know, but still, for her to take such a risk. What if she had lost the baby?"

"She hasn't, so stop worrying about it."

"Do you know where she is? We all need to catch up."

Seifer hesitates before answering, "She is in Winhill." He explains to her that they were going to Winhill and that they had found Slade Flynn. Hearing his name brought shivers down her spine, she was glad they had found him but she hopes that they will be careful.

Before Quistis got the chance to say anything Seifer continued. "She won't fight; she will stay in the Ragnarok, and so does Ellone."

Although Quistis would have rather see that her friend was here, far away from the dangers, she is at least glad she doesn't needs to fight. Although she thinks that both Selphie and Ellone shouldn't be in Winhill, she knows that Squall and Irvine will make sure they are safe.

She doesn't want to think about who they are after so she instead focuses on her daughter. Ayla has left the swings and is now playing on the slides.

Placing her head on Seifer's chest she listens to his heartbeat and Quistis cannot stop her eyelids from closing.

A sharp intake of breath from Seifer wakes her up from her daze. Bewildered she looks around, trying to see what is wrong. Following her husbands gaze she sees a man standing next to her daughter, normally she wouldn't worry too much about it but seeing how tense Seifer is she wonders if she knows who this person is. Before she has a chance to ask him he was already walking to the man, his hand placed loosely on his gunblade.

Looking closer to the man she has the feeling she has seen him before, but she can't recall from where. Something inside of her tells her to get her daughter away from this man so she too makes her way to her child.

Seifer had just walked past the swings when he suddenly drops to his knees, Quistis runs to him and searches him for any injury, and she can't find anything but he is struggling with breathing. Seifer pushes her away and fear is etched on his face, turning around she sees that the strange man had knocked Ayla out. Anger seers through her vines while she runs up to the man who hurt her daughter. Even though she hadn't seen the man's face before she knows who he is, wasn't he supposed to be in Winhill? What is he doing here? Wasting no time she uncoils her whip and is ready to strike when the man put Ayla on his shoulder and with his left hand he holds a scepter.

The scepter starts to glow and Ayla and the man are gone.

Find me. Look for me. Come to me alone, or she will pay the price.

His words ring in her ears, she has no idea where he has taken her but she will find out. And if she finds him she will come alone, she wants to kill him herself, but will the others let her?