A/N: Ten more chapters left...ten more long agonizing chapters. About the whole Seifer's thought chapter, I just decided to do a one-shot story on it. When I'm done this, I'll quickly type it up so look out for Silent Screams: Chapter 49 ½. Mind you, I'm listening to End of the Road, by Me First and the Gimme Gimme's. Oh, not to mention a lot of Creed. And other moody music!

Silent Screams Chapter 40

Quistis sat there, letting her fingers dance amongst the air that blew. She watched the world high up in the secret area. To think, everything would be gone if she didn't kill Sorceress Eleni. Squall was in a meeting discussing why the Deep-Sea Research Garden was admitted without his approval. Surprisingly enough, Eleni had a piece of paper stating that Squall agreed, since he was off fighting the sorceress. All of it was forged. Squall denied it repeatedly, but it was too late. Their opening access day was to be held for tomorrow.

Eleni would then go out, show off her garden to the world, taking everyone with her. They would kill the world, releasing demon after demon after demon. Quistis watched the world as it moved. Her eyes filled up with tears abruptly. She slumped against the pole, the tears she cried falling down into the Training Center and hitting the small stream the flowed through it. She sniffled softly, wiping her nose quickly and then her eyes.

Quistis spun away from the view, staring at the door. So many thoughts began to flood her mind...

"Go talk to a wall..." he had said to her...

She shook her head once more. That was then, this was now. She sighed and brushed back her long bangs, but to no avail they fell right back in front of her face. She blew on them, smiling somewhat as they carelessly floated down to her face. She spun back around, looking at the vast horizon. How many days did she spend here watching the sunset?

Her thoughts were broken as a soft voice collided with her thoughts. "Been ages, Quisty, hasn't it?"

She turned around, seeing her once best friend Xu standing at the entrance to the door. "Yea, it has." She leaned against the pole, staring at the world still.

Xu walked up to her, leaning on the pole next to her. "Remember when we used to sneak out here after midnight just to watch Squall battle?"

Quistis giggled. "I was watching him, you were drooling over Seifer."

Xu smiled and blushed at the same time. "Was it that noticeable?" Quistis nodded her head, only to be shoved by Xu. "Shut up! Ugh...remember graduation?"

"Ours or Squall's?"

"Ours. Hyne, I remember how trashed you got."

"Me? Try more like you."

"Oh please, I was sober as anything!"

Quistis chuckled. "You know...I...If I fail, we all die." Xu nodded her head. "Its...like...I decide whether or not we break through the barricade at the end of the road, you know?"

"Oh, I know. I have pure faith in you, Quistis."

Quistis gave her a half smile. "Don't say you have pure faith in me. Then I'll get nervous."

Xu laughed, walking back to the entrance to the secret area. "You? Nervous?" Sarcastically, she added, "Never."

With that, she had laughed. Quistis continued to watch the skyline, seeing the light orange peak out from behind the clouds. Sun was almost setting. Quistis smiled softly, enjoying every moment she could. A butterfly floated in front of her face, landing perfectly on her nose. She smiled, her thoughts rushing to Selphie immediately.

A tear slowly dripped out of her eye, the butterfly then floating away gracefully. She let out a silent breath, her thoughts drifting to her mother. Would things be different if her mother was still around?

She shook her head and pushed herself away from the railing, walking over to the door. She walked out into the foliage, seeing Irvine standing there, watching Quistis. "Hey, Irvine."

He smiled at her and waved. Quistis walked over to him, smiling softly. "Don't sacrifice everything, Quistis." He spun around, walking away. Quistis grabbed his shoulder.

"What?"

He sighed, pulling off his hat and rubbing his scalp. "You don't need to sacrifice your own well being."

Quistis shook her head. "Yes, I do, Irvine. I have to save the world, yet again."

Irvine rubbed his neck now. "Well, don't die on us. I'd hate to lose the last lady in my life."

Quistis grinned. "Oh come on, Irvine. You've got all those girls fawning all over you."

Irvine was now grinning. "Yea, but none of them I love. I loved Rinoa, and she's gone. I really loved Selphie, and she's gone. I'd hate to lose the last girl I love." He wrapped his arms around Quistis, hugging her tightly. "Don't die, ok?"

Quistis sniffled softly. Surprisingly, Irvine was one of the most sensitive men she knew. "Oh, Irv," she sniffled out. "You know me better than that. I don't die too easily."

With those words, Irvine walked away. He placed back on his hat, walking coolly away. Quistis breathed in, starting to trail his steps. She saw Nero standing there, his posture waiting. "Quistis."

"Nero."

He let out a breath, and pulled off his hood, revealing light blue skin and silver streaked hair. "I thought you should know how I look before we went to battle." His eyes were shimmered sapphire and silver.

Quistis smiled, walking up to him and mussing up his hair. He rolled his eyes and pulled the hood back up, spinning away and walking away. Quistis stood there, shaking her head.

She began to walk again, seeing the person who held her soul. She blinked softly, looking at his shaggy blonde hair. He was leaning against a wall, spinning his Hyperion around in a slow circle. "Hey."

Seifer looked up, sheathing his sword. "Quistis, I know you talked to three of us already, but I deserve a pep speech, too." Quistis nodded her head, walking over to him and grabbing his hand with both of hers. He pulled it away, causing her to give him a confused smile. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Tempt me. Listen, I just wanted to let you know that...well...You're the best there has ever been. I hope you never forget me, Quistis. Cause after this, I'm sure you won't see me."

Quistis' once smile now faded into a frown. "I can't forget you. You know that."

Seifer shrugged his shoulders, pulling Quistis into a hug. Quistis felt his hard chest and lay her head down, putting her hands against his back. "Come on, now, miss Blue Mage SeaD..."

He sniffled. "Was that a sniffle?"

"Heh, yea...me...cry?"

Quistis grinned, knowing he was giving her his soft smile, a tear dripping down his cheek. She was right, because she felt a soft, wet drop hit her scalp. "Yea...you cry."

He chuckled. "Nothing gets past you, does it?" She shook her head. "If anything is to happen, I will protect you."

"I know, Seifer."

"If it comes down to it, I'll die for you, ok?"

She shook her head. "No. No more dying."

oooooooooooo

Quistis tapped on the Commander's door. It opened up, revealing a stressed out Squall. She wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tight to her. "Hey. You look like you've been crying?"

"I miss Dante..."

Squall's head perked up at the name. "Oh my Hyne! I can't believe I forgot to tell you!"

She looked up. "Tell me what?"

"Nero told me while you were past out. Hyne has Dante."

A wave of relief washed over Quistis. "Thank Hyne! I thought that Eleni had him...the demons said that he dropped in the ocean."

"Hyne got him just in time."

oooooooooooo

"Stop! Stop! I give!"

Dante giggled loudly, clapping his hands. Hyne sat up, seeing Dante sitting on his stomach. For the past hour and a half, Dante had tickled Hyne. The two hours before that, placed make up on him. The five before that, threw blocks at him.

How the hell did Quistis deal with the child?

Now Hyne knew why he waited until they turned eighteen. He sat up, picking Dante up as he curled his stomach. Dante automatically hugged the poor god.

oooooooooooo

Quistis stood there, the wind blowing her hair up into a firestorm. She blinked slowly. In her hand was nothing but The Red Queen's Rose. She walked slowly, every step she took blasting fire. She continued to walk, the sharp shards floating behind her. She continued to walk on, the whip now dragging across the ground, lighting flames as it dragged.

Every step she took, the shards began to gather. She stopped, the shards stopping as well, now forming a crystal body. Quistis looked down the edge of the cliff, staring down at a black abyss. She looked up, crows flying from the clouds. Quistis held out her hand, all of them turning into white doves. The crystal body behind her held up its hand as well, the doves flying away. A large creature, the creature from her previous dream appeared across the valley, roaring wildly at Quistis.

With one smooth motion, the whip extended across the ravine, winding its throat and clutching tight, the piercing thorns stabbing into its throat.

oooooooooooo

Quistis woke up with a startle. She shook her head, the blonde tresses falling in front of her face. She looked at the clock. It was only six thirty. She looked to her other side, seeing no Squall. With one gentle movement, she slipped out of bed and threw on her silver dress. She was preparing for the battle that was to be done. She grabbed her whip and walked out of the room, leaving the place a mess. She walked down a flight of stairs, in nothing but her bare feet, and walked right past the cafeteria, slightly gazing in. She saw a few students grabbing onto hotdogs, smiling cheerfully. The lunch ladies, however, looked slightly saddened.

Quistis saw one look up and waved to her slightly, continuing on her walk. She walked past the infirmary, smiling at Dr. Kadowaki leaning over a student with a bruise. She walked to the entrance, her silver gown trailing behind her. She looked outside, seeing the Apollo and Seifer and Nero standing out there.

She walked over to them, half-smiling, and stood there, watching the clouds pass by. "You ready?"

"Where's Squall and Irvine?" she asked.

"Inside the Apollo," Seifer responded. "We waited here for you. Need to have a slight discussion."

Nero nodded his head. "Listen, without the Lightning Sword, we're basically screwed. Unless you can summon up Ultimate Griever."

"Not a problem."

"It'll be hard. You'll have to rely solely on magic." She nodded her head. "You can defeat her. I know you can Quistis. She has no family, so the power will go to the closest person. That could be you. I hope you understand all this."

Quistis walked up to the Apollo, the wind blowing her hair and gown back. "I can do this, Nero."

Storm clouds suddenly blew out of no where. The first omen of the Solar Eclipse.

A/N: Oh, I forgot to mention two things last chapter. A flower in a bed of thorns: Un fiore in un letto di spine, for those that don't speak Italian. And the other thing was, since no one has really picked up on it, the shards of glass are all the other Blue Mage SeaDs from the past. Oh, and I wasn't sure if I said Solar or Lunar before. I don't feel like checking.

I'm doing a Revised Version of this anyway so a lot of little mistakes will be fixed. If you wanna be a jerk (haha just kidding!) then send me a list of all the mistakes. It'll actually be a big help. Just send them to Write the chapter and the passage, maybe even highlight or underline the mistake if you wanna be real jerky about! ;) Haha!

Oh and sorry this is like...two days late. I needed some time off for...well I'll be honest, Final Fantasy Eleven and the STUPID Summerfest :( If you wanna party with me ever on there, my name is Aurorastar, level eleven (yea shut up I know I suck. I'm spending more time on my writing!) theif!