Part Twenty

Out of the Frying Pan

Missile Base

The mission into the base had been a partial success for the group. Selphie, Quistis, Irvine, Rinoa and Roxas had managed to break in without much of an effort and they stole uniforms to blend in. The base wasn't that big and it didn't take them long to find out where the missiles had been stored as well as where the launch pad could be located.

Selphie had managed to cut off the fuel supply to the rockets meant for Balamb but they were too late to stop the attack on Trabia Garden. Selphie had watched in helpless shock as the missiles were launched and headed straight for the place she grew up in. Irvine had gripped her hand and gave her a gentle squeeze to try and soothe the pain.

Selphie doubted that anything would soothe this agony in her heart but she was grateful for Irvine trying at least. Quistis, Rinoa and Roxas had given her their condolences and Selphie thanked them for the heartfelt way they said it. Trabia Garden's destruction only cemented the girl's resolve to end the reign of the Sorceress and those three Knights.

At least Balamb Garden was safe for now. To make sure that there would be no more missiles launching Selphie had activated the self-destruct sequence. The group had managed to make it out in time before the whole facility went up in a ball of white hot fire.

Right now they were sitting on the outskirts of the ruined base while Irvine mulled over a map. He was looking for the best town to get to before the car ran out of gas and they ended up stranded in a blazing hot desert. Quistis and Rinoa were on the lookout for any creatures roaming the desert plains while Roxas remained silent as he sank into his thoughts concerning Axel and Seifer.

He hated having to be apart from the red head after only just finding him. He could still barely believe that Axel was here, alive, warm and just as cocky as ever. Roxas felt a smile tug his lips. He was happy Axel hadn't changed.

He suited being a Guardian Force. The wings only added to his ethereal beauty. The golden and crimson wings gave him the appearance of a fiery angel. Roxas had to admit that Axel's new outfit was a total erection material. Just thinking about those skin tight shorts, boots and tank top made Roxas' blood boil with desire.

Then there was the matter of Seifer Almasy. The tall blond had full possession of the red head and Roxas couldn't help but feel that dark jealousy that swam within his heart. He knew Seifer never asked for Axel but that was how Roxas felt and it couldn't be helped. He wanted Axel all to himself.

"How are you holding up?" Rinoa questioned. She was leaning against a large black boulder with Roxas.

"I'm actually ok." Roxas nodded.

"You know we never really had a chance to have a conversation." Rinoa smiled at the small blond.

"So what do you wanna talk about?" blue eyes fixed on dark ones.

"Well how about you. You seem to have a thing for tall lanky red heads." Rinoa giggled.

"Axel just has this magnetism." Roxas got a dreamy look in his eyes. "You just have to listen to the guy when he talks."

"So how did you guys meet?" the dark haired woman pressed.

"I was part of this group called Organization XIII. Axel was the one who found me." Roxas glanced towards the horizon. "Even then I knew that this one guy would change me."

"And did he?" Rinoa murmured.

"Yeah but I fucked it up." Roxas said bitterly. "I was so desperate to find my other half that I didn't even see what I was doing to Axel."

"I'm sorry." Rinoa said truthfully.

"He's my best friend." Roxas sniffed. "After the incident with Sokar I just felt this gaping hole in me. It was worse than not having a heart."

"But he's here now." The girl smiled.

"Yeah and he's bonded to Seifer of all people." Roxas growled.

"Someone sounds a little jealous." Rinoa laughed.

"I knew Seifer from my world. He was a jerk." Roxas shook his head. "Then Zexion cast that spell to make him remember. He wasn't so bad after that."

"No offence but your world sounds really messed up." Rinoa snorted.

"You don't know the half of it." Roxas amended.

"And what about your version of Squall?" Rinoa glanced at the blond teen. "He seems to be more open."

"Leon's just like that. He treats Sora like his kid brother." Roxas gave Rinoa a wistful smile.

"He seems really nice." Rinoa blushed a little as she said this.

"So you have a crush on the icy commander." Roxas teased.

"Squall is an attractive man but he really needs to have some fun." Rinoa sighed.

"Do yourself a favour and don't go after Leon." Roxas warned her. He still recalled in vivid detail what Cloud did to this one guy who had the stupidity to grab Leon's ass in Cloud's presence.

"Does he have a girlfriend?" Rinoa questioned.

"I don't think Cloud would appreciate being called a girl." Roxas remarked. He watched as Rinoa's eyes widened almost comically.

"Cloud and Leon are together?" she gaped like a fish.

"And believe me when I say Cloud is the jealous type." Roxas affirmed.

"But he seems so quiet." Rinoa said.

"One time a guy grabbed Leon's ass and Cloud broke his wrist in three places." Roxas winced.

"Note to self...do not grab the sexy brunet." Rinoa giggled.

"I don't know about Squall. Maybe you could ask him out." Roxas suggested.

"I don't know. I think Seifer would kill me if I asked out the guy he's in love with..." she stopped when she realized what she said.

"You're kidding?" Roxas couldn't believe what he's just heard.

"Crap, I promised Seifer I wouldn't say anything." Rinoa bit her lip.

"I won't say anything." The short blond promised. "So how do you know about Seifer?"

"He told me. We used to go out but it was over the summer and he told me about Squall before he went back to Balamb Garden." Rinoa explained.

"I didn't think Seifer swung that way." Roxas frowned.

"He told me Squall broke his heart. I was the rebound girl." The girl sighed sadly.

"What happened?" Roxas murmured. He didn't think he'd actually feel bad for Seifer Almasy of all people.

"He just said, and I quote, 'That bastard forgot everything. He forgot me.' I felt really bad for the guy." Rinoa sighed gently.

"Ouch." Roxas winced. He glanced back when he heard Irvine give out a yell of victory.

"What is it?" Rinoa asked.

"I found a small town nearby darlin'. We can reach it in half an hour." Irvine drawled.

"Let's go already. I'm roasting up here!" Selphie cried.

"Get in guys." Irvine went behind the steering wheel.

The truck sped across the vast desert towards the north where a small town was situated. They could catch the first boat back to Balamb Island and meet up with the others. Roxas sat in the back with Rinoa and Quistis while Selphie remained up from with Irvine.

They reached the small desert town aptly named Desert Rose without any incidents and within the next hour they left the car and took the train back to Deling City. While sitting in his compartment Roxas thought about Sora, Riku, Baralai, Cloud and Leon. He had no doubt in his mind that they were safe but they still had to come up with a way to defeat the Sorceress and her three Knights.

"We'll be reaching Deling City soon." Quistis announced as she entered the compartment. Rinoa, Selphie and Irvine glanced up at her.

"I hope the others are safe." Rinoa said softly.

"Once we get back I want to go to Trabia Garden. I want to see what happened." Selphie was adamant in her statement.

"We'll take you there Selphie." Quistis promised the girl.

As soon as the train pulled in the group departed and quickly purchased tickets for the next boat out to Balamb Island. Roxas couldn't believe their luck when they got an early booking back to the Garden. It didn't take them long to reach the island and once they departed from the harbour the group made their way to the town's exit.

They didn't have time to find a car so they ran out of the town and along the road that would take them back to the Garden. As they traverse along the narrow dirt road they stopped. At first Quistis though with sick clarity that the Garden had been destroyed but as she got closer she could see no debris from an explosion. There was in fact a small crater.

"Guys!" a familiar voice called out. They turned to see Cloud, Leon and Squall standing near the crater's mouth.

"Thank Hyne you're alright." Rinoa exclaimed.

"What the hell happened here?" Roxas demanded. "We stopped the missile launch."

"Guys...I see something coming." Selphie pointed up to the sky. There was something flying towards them from the ocean.

"It's Axel and Seifer." Roxas exclaimed when the Guardian Force came into view. When they landed near the crater Squall stalked up to Seifer.

"What the hell happened here Almasy?" he growled.

"What are you so pissy about Leonhart?" Seifer barked angrily. "Everyone is safe as is the Garden."

"So where did it go?" Quistis asked.

"It flew away." Axel broke in. "And it was totally awesome." He was cut off when Roxas wrapped his arms around his thin waist and hugged the GF.

"Miss me much Roxy?" Axel grinned.

"What do you think?" the blond boy whispered just loud enough for Axel to hear.

"The Garden can fly?" Irvine cocked an eyebrow.

"Honestly Squall..." Seifer sighed. "Yes, a machine within the Garden made it capable of flight. Nida powered it up and we took off. He couldn't control it for very long and it crashed into the ocean."

"I thought you said everyone was safe?" Squall butted in heatedly.

"Let me finish. The Garden crashed into the ocean but it started to float along with the current. It ended up at Fisherman's Horizon of all places." Seifer snorted.

"We'll have to take the monorail to get there." Quistis sighed.

"What about Sora and the others?" Leon asked Axel.

"They're all fine. But Galbadia is moving in." Axel said stiffly.

"Fisherman's Horizon is neutral territory. They can't take it." Squall said.

"The Sorceress sent in her army to take it. Cid is trying to help the mayor fight back but it's gonna be a bloodbath." Seifer stated.

"Go back to the Garden and tell them we're on our way." Squall ordered. Seifer nodded then motioned for Axel to follow him.

"I'll see you soon Roxy." Axel murmured as he pressed his lips to the blond boy's head.

"Good luck." Cloud nodded towards Seifer and Axel. "We'll be there as soon as we can."

"Let's go back to Balamb." Squall ordered when Seifer and Axel took off again.

"Flying Gardens, insane Sorceress' and three Nobodies. This just keeps getting better and better." Cloud muttered.

Leon's only response was to roll his eyes.