THE ZELL DINCHT COLLECTION

WARNINGS

1) I do not own Zell, Squall, Rinoa, Irvine, Seifer, Selphie, Irvine, Quistis, or any other character I may mention from the FF8 series. I may add some more characters, which are mine. If you steal them, I probably won't find out about it. I also do not own most of the towns, monsters, etc… used in this story.

2) This was written cause Zell is the coolest character ever to be created in the FF series. It's rated NC-17 for mostly sex, but it also contains some language and violence.

3) This is a yaoi story. If you are offended by yaoi or don't know what it is, I suggest you leave. You have been warned.

Ok think I got everything. Just read it and leave me some feedback. If you flame me I'll find it funny, so do whatever the hell makes you feel good.

CHAPTER 25: La Resistance

It was lunchtime, so Zell decided to take Seifer and Puma down to the pub (The Owl's Nest). He thought a few drinks would loosen them up, and possibly they could find someone to talk to. The town had begun to recognize them, but still considered them outsiders. They still received the cold stares and angry faces. Zell kept his hopes up though, and thought if they just found that one person, everything would work out. That person never seemed to come however, and the other group members were becoming frustrated. Puma and Zell had to pull Seifer out of quite a few fights, which didn't help their popularity much. The big blonde considered it a waste of time anyway. Nobody did talk, and nobody ever was.

Puma didn't resort to violence, but every day that past made him long more and more to return home. He knew hall duty was going to be dull, but this was flat out boring. Sure, it was cool that he spent all day by Zell's side, but he'd still rather do it at home.

Zell was the only one who remained optimistic. He had to. Zoe had been eating away at him for the last month, and the only way to get his mind off of it was to throw himself completely behind the mission. Puma saw this, and knew that the blonde still hadn't faced the problem. He feared Zell was going to explode or collapse one of these days, but what could he do about it. He couldn't control the blonde's mind, but hoped that this mission would end soon so Zell could work this shit out. With Squall's recent development, some life was pumped back into the three. They had a chance of getting out of this hellhole. It was still going to be a few days however, so they waited by the phone for some new info.

"What's new man?" Zell asked, trying to start a conversation with the man he sat next to at the bar.

"……" the man ignored him. Dropping his head, Zell took another sip of his beer. The man quickly moved away, leaving the three alone.

"What'd I do wrong?" the blonde asked. Puma and Seifer just shrugged. A well dressed general suddenly busted through the door, causing the whole bar to jump. A pack of similarly dressed soldiers followed. Zell didn't recognize their uniforms, but if Timber had a militia, this would probably be what they looked like. The group's stomachs fell, as the men directly approached them. They knew this was not going to end well.

"Zell Dincht, Puma Crowings, and Seifer Almasy," the general greeted. "You're all under arrest for treason."

"WHAT?!?" Zell immediately responded, but his head was slammed against the bar as they handcuffed him. Puma and Seifer were given a similar fate, and they were dragged out of the bar with a light golf clap arising from the other people in the bar. They were pushed outside and up a flight of steps towards the upper portion of town. "What the hell is this all about?"

"We have a warrant, so keep quiet," the general responded. "You'll get a trial. Plead your case there." Zell struggled to break the metal cuffs, but found it quite impossible. Seifer gave the soldier who escorted him hell as well, but Puma walked in silence. It was a quick trip, and soon, the three found themselves in a wooden courthouse. The building was already filled with townspeople, who booed and hissed as the defendants were led to their table. It was one old and crappy courthouse, but at least it was democracy.

"All rise," the bailiff called. "The Honorable Judge Heartily presides." As he said this, a woman with long black hair rose to the high chair, and took a seat. She did not wear a Judge's robe, which scared the three. Instead, she wore a long blue dress, which seemed inappropriate for her current amount of power.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you guys as best I can," an attorney whispered, as he took a seat next to Puma on the far right. The three nodded, and felt a little better that they were at least represented.

"The plaintiff, if you will," Judge Heartily motioned. A young attorney moved to the front of the room, and started to pace back and forth.

"Rinoa, or Your Honor," he laughed. Rinoa turned pink and giggled. "These men are guilty of treason." As soon as he started, the attorney made his way back to his chair. "The plaintiff rests."

"Defense?" Rinoa asked. Their lawyer made his way to the front, and cleared his throat.

"I agree. They're bastards." Zell's mouth dropped, as Rinoa giggled again. "The defense rests." Seifer would have killed the attorney right there if he wasn't handcuffed, but all he could do was spit at him.

"Since we're all in favor, I have to say they're guilty," the Rinoa laughed, banging her gavel. "I'll now take suggestions for form of execution."

"EXECUTION?!?" Zell yelled, but his attorney pushed him back in his chair. Rinoa ignored him.

"Guillotine!" cried a person from the crowd.

"Public Hanging!" yelled another.

"Wait…guillotine was first," Rinoa corrected, writing it down. "Guillotine in say a few hours?" she asked looking to the bailiff. "We can set it up before dusk right?" The bailiff nodded, and she banged her gavel happily. "Dismissed!"

"This is going to bite you in the ass!" Zell yelled, as he was led out of the shabby courtroom. "You're going to fall off of your high podium!"

"Sure…buh-bye," Rinoa waved, as the three were finally pushed outside. They were led about a block before being stuffed into a large jail cell. Timber didn't really have a jail, so it was more like a cage structure. It gave them a clear view of the main street, in which a large mob was already starting to form. They were already making plans for creating this death machine.

"It's been a while since we got to build a guillotine!" one cheered. "Rinoa sure is great!"

Zell banged his fist against a bar, but found it solid steel. After watching for a brief while, the three turned their view from the street, as it turned their stomach. The mob grew larger quickly, as it seemed everyone in town pitched in to get this thing underway. The guillotine was becoming a reality, and it scared the shit out of the three.

"We're gonna be ok," Zell comforted, sitting against the bars next to Puma. "They'll have to shoot me before they get my head in that thing!"

"That's not helping," Puma muttered, looking at the ground. Seifer paced back and forth in front of the two, trying to formulate some plan.

"You didn't bring your Quarterstaff did you?" Zell asked Puma. The redhead shook his head, and continued to stare at the dirt floor.

"It's in the hotel."

"I got my fists," Zell said. "But they don't help me behind my back." Puma nodded, but said nothing. Seifer kept unusually quiet as well, and all they could hear were the whoops and calls of the townspeople behind them. Zell sat in thought for a long while, but he couldn't come up with a good solution to the problem. They were screwed.

"Tomorrow's my birthday," Puma mumbled, breaking the silence. "I'm not dying at sixteen." Zell wasn't exactly sure how to respond to this, so he kept quiet. He wondered why he brought this up now, but it made him feel horrible. If they killed Puma, he would go into rage. Zell bit his lip though, and tried to contain his anger.

"Don't worry," Seifer smiled, flashing them the tip of his gunblade, which was hidden inside his pant leg. "We have insurance."

(**********)

"Their room looks alright," Selphie noted, searching through Zell and Puma's hotel room. It had been a long car ride, and she was glad to finally reach town. If those bastards hurt Zell or Puma or even Seifer, she'd have their head.

"No it doesn't," Squall muttered, pulling a small metal clip off their phone. "They don't bug just anyone's room."

"You're good," Selphie smiled. Squall nodded, but wasn't into small talk right now.

"They're not here. We got to find them quick." The brunette stormed out of the room with Selphie at his heals. There was no receptionist at the hotel, which Selphie found strange, and she knew that something was amuck. Taking a deep breath, she prepared for the worst.

(**********)

Before them stood the giant monstrosity of which they called a guillotine. On a scaffold stood a stockade and above the neck restraint hovered a giant blade. There was a basket to catch the head of the decapitated, and the townspeople hooted and hollered as they completed their project.

"Are we ready?" Rinoa asked, moving towards the makeshift jail cell. The crowd cheered in reply, and she unlocked the gate. "Which one?"

"Seifer!" the mob all yelled at once. The large blonde had pissed off the most people during his stay in Timber, and it was fitting that he died first. She grabbed him by the hair, and led him onto the scaffold. Zell knew he wouldn't go down quietly, but how long could he hold out. Seifer held a sad face, as Rinoa paraded him around the stockade. The crowd went wild with cheers, as he looked very submissive. She started to lead him towards the back of the fixture, when he made a quick move.

"Bitch!" he yelled, pulling Hyperion out of his pant leg and cutting off his handcuffs with a quick twirl. The crowd gasped, as he took a swing at their leader. Luckily, Rinoa took a quick step back, and only received a cut on her nose. Outraged, the mob began to rush the stage, and Zell knew Seifer wouldn't hold out for very long. He continued to cut people down however. Body after body fell, as he'd slice and then shoot. Rinoa fled the danger, and started yelling orders at her commanding officers. After a while, the big blonde's arm was finally caught, and he was subdued to the ground. Zell winced in pain, as he knew they were done. It was just like Seifer to take the world on his shoulders, but he wasn't bigger then a thousand people. That was their last hope.

"Shit," Zell mumbled, as they grabbed Hyperion, and pushed Seifer into the guillotine. A masked man held a rope, which would drop the blade upon him, and the crowd started to cheer as he prepared to pull it.

BANG! A gunshot took the executioner out, and he fell off of the scaffold. With a quick twirl of his gunblade, Squall cut the lock off of the jail cell, freeing Zell and Puma.

"YEAH!" Zell yelled at the reinforcements. Squall quickly cut the handcuffs off of them, as Selphie cast a fire spell at anyone who came close to the rope. Rinoa was caught between the mob and Squall Leonhart. Terrified, she slowly backed away, pressing herself against the far wall. Squall didn't catch this however, and he just marched towards the mob. Gunshots rang from those who had guns, but Squall caught them quickly with his gunblade. He reached the first man and cut him down with an upper slice. A second man fell with the gunshot that followed.

"Seifer!" Zell yelled to Selphie. She nodded, and made her way around the large mass to reach the scaffold. Zell and Puma jogged up alongside Squall, and faced the oncoming mass. Zell knocked down man after man, as his metal knuckles cut into their flesh. Puma had a little less success, as he wasn't used to fighting unarmed, but he was able to put down a couple people. A few times, someone would catch his arm, or try an attack, but Squall was always right there to save him. Slowly, the three were pushing towards the scaffold. Selphie managed to avoid battle, and jumped up the back of the stage.

"Get me out of here!" Seifer yelled at her, as she hit a man with a thunder spell.

"I'm getting there," she yelled back. Luckily, most of the people were too occupied with Squall, Zell, and Puma to notice her. She unlocked Seifer with ease, and now there were five free SeeDs. Her plan falling apart, Rinoa tried to think of something quick. She nudged her way back, trying to remain unseen. Once Squall and co. were in front of her, she grabbed ahold of Puma from behind, and used him as a shield. Using her blaster edge, she took out Zell's legs, causing him to fall to one knee. In the quick change of momentum, Squall spun around to face the new threat.

"Squall!" Selphie yelled from the stage, as a townsperson jumped him from behind. Rinoa raised her blaster edge again, and aimed at Squall's neck. The weapon flew out of her hands however, as a bullet whizzed past her ear. A shotgun bullet threw the man off Squall's back, and the brunette couldn't help but look in awe.

"Thought you could use a hand," Irvine yelled. "Won't miss this time." He raised his gun to Rinoa, but she held Puma in front of her as a shield.

"Don't shoot!" Zell yelled. "Don't shoot!" Defeated, Irvinne changed his target, and took out the closest man to Squall. Seifer and Selphie jumped off the scaffold, and attacked the mob from behind. Chaos ensued, as the townspeople ran in multiple directions to get away from the SeeDs. They took down who they could, but a majority of them got away. Zell had been trampled, but he survived. Around two hundred corpses were slain in the town, but that was only about a tenth of Timber's population. The town was abandoned, allowing them room to catch their breath. Zell could barely stand with the leg muscle injuries he sustained, but Squall tried his best to heal him.

"What now?" Irvine asked, looking around the battlefield.

"Where's Puma?" Zell asked, looking from Squall to Selphie to Seifer to Irvine. They took a quick look through the corpses, but they found no sign of the redhead. He was alive, but missing.