Author's note: This is a compilation between Ceara Ivory and myself. We don't own Final Fantasy X.

Ambition: A Final Fantasy X Fanfiction

Chapter 10:

Operation Mi'ihen

The group arrived at the base of operations as people prepared for battle. Lucia paled in fear. "No… you can't…" She looked helplessly at the others, "They'll all be killed! Why are they preparing?"

Luzzu came up to them with a frown. "We got overridden. Grand Maestor Mika told Maestor Kinoc said that he was to ignore your orders."

Lucia shook her head fearfully. "No… But I know that you're leaving something out. What is it?"

Gatta frowned. "He said that Lord Seymour would get all the credit when this succeeds..."

Seymour frowned. "But the seers have both said it's doomed to failure. This is a pointless loss! We'll have to try and convince them again to call it off."

Yuna looked at Luzzu and Gatta, "Please, don't go to the battle. I'm begging you. Try to convince anyone and everyone you can to not fight. Please Luzzu, Gatta."

Gatta looked at Luzzu. "Maestor Seymour, I know you were against this from the beginning... But why would he want you to have the credit now if it succeeds?"

Melinda scoffed. "Obviously, he means he'll blame Maestor Seymour when it fails and everyone dies! Please don't go!"

Luzzu looked at the girl with a perplexed expression, "But that would mean that Grand Maestor Mika knows it would fail from the beginning. Why would he want to lose so many warriors?"

"Because it's like Maestor Seymour said..." Yuna said, trailing off like she was coming to a revelation. "If the Crusaders all die, that will tell the people that only the church of Yevon... And that the Al Bhed are..."

Lucia nodded, "Right, and that's why we have to stop it." She looked away murmuring so softly no one could hear it. "Why I have to stop it…"

Seymour frowned, "Let's go see Maestor Kinoc and see if we can convince him to stop this massacre. The only way to override a Grand Maestor is to have a two, preferably three to one vote. I'm sure Ronso would help us if he were here." He led the way inside and up to the chambers where Maestor Kinoc was, with Luzzu and Gatta on their heels. He knocked on the door. "Maestor Kinoc, I need a word with you immediately."

Rikku smiled. "Or I could just disable all the machina..." She suggested dubiously.

Seymour held a hand up, whispering, "If it comes to it, but not before then. Maybe… just maybe… I can talk some sense into someone." He knocked on the door again. "Maestor Kinoc. I demand an audience with you!"

Maestor Kinoc, a short fat man, opened the door. "Ahh, if it's not the brains behind this brilliant plan." He motioned inside, "Do come in."

The group went inside as a chill settled in Lucia's stomach. A feeling of horrible dread as the images flashed before her eyes again. Seymour frowned as he nodded. "It'll be okay you two." He looked at Kinoc, "Originally it was my plan. But these two women are seers who have risked a lot to find us and tell me that it will end in a terrible tragedy. You must help me to override Grand Maestor Mika on this."

Maestor Kinoc smiled oddly. "Oh Seymour, you listen to seers now? You never did before... And who is this..." He came upon Melinda. "Beautiful pidgeon?"

Seymour didn't like the look in his eyes as he put himself between the two. "That is Melinda, one of the seers. They foresaw the terrible tragedy that could have befallen Kilika had they not acted as quickly as they did. Now, they have also predicted this would end in failure, and I for one, will not let everyone go to die."

Maestor Kinoc rolled his eyes. "Operation Mi'ihen will do away with Sin and the need for the Final Summoning. No more Summoners need sacrifice themselves. We must at least try..." He looked at Melinda. "Mustn't we?" Melinda shook her head as she hid behind Seymour. "Skittish isn't she?"

The half-Guado raised a blue brow, "Wouldn't you be if someone was looking at you like you were a piece of meat? Especially since seers are coveted and sought by all. Leave her alone. And as for the other, we will find another way, this moment in time is not the moment to deal with Sin." He had long since known the fact that Summoners died during the final summoning. It only fueled his suspicion that the girls were right about what Sin really was. If they were right about Sin, they might be right about Mika as well. "Call off the operation Kinoc!"

Kinoc shook his head. "It's too late to stop it now Seymour. If you had any doubts, you should have spoken up weeks ago..."

A knock came at the door. "Maestor Seymour! Maestor Seymour!" A random Crusader called.

Seymour whirled around on his feet, "Yes, what is it?"

"I think you should come out here sir! We have a problem!" The Crusader said.

Baralai looked at Seymour, "I'll handle the problem Maestor, you finish speaking with Maestor Kinoc." He left the room quickly to find out what the matter was.

Seymour turned back to Kinoc, "It's never too late to cancel the operation Maestor Kinoc. Even you know that!"

Kinoc grinned at Seymour. "It is much too late to cancel..."

Melinda was looking out the door and giggled. "Actually I think you have no choice. The Al Bhed don't look happy and the machina is in shambles."

Kinoc frowned. "What?" He pushed past the girl. "What the hell is going on here!"

Lucia whirled on Kinoc, "You think it's too late to cancel? Ha! Looks like they decided to cancel on you! Pathetic." She noticed Rikku was missing as she laughed mentally. "Now you will mind your manners with my sister and not touch her again. Understand?"

Kinoc glared at her. "You will not talk that way to a Maestor, Seer or not!"

A tall man, bald head shining in the sun came up to them, a frown marring his face, Baralai on his heels. Yuna jumped for joy and ran to him. "Uncle Cid!"

Cid hugged Yuna gently. "Maestor Kinoc, my daughter tells me that Maestor Seymour canceled this mission!"

Kinoc shook his head, "The orders were overridden by Grand Maestor Mika. He believes the seers visions to be faulty." He gave a glare towards Lucia and Melinda.

Lucia glared back, finding the fire again within her to press forward. "Really? When we predicted the destruction of Kilika? Where we saved lives… Then when I predicted something would happen to Lady Yuna? You still disbelieve? You're a sad little man. No one, especially Yevon would send so many to their deaths!"

Kinoc looked at the woman as he stalked towards her. "You will not speak to a Maestor with such disrespect!" He tried to backhand her as she gracefully bent over backwards, dodging the blow. She flipped backwards to stand upright.

The braided brunette glared at him. "Try that again and you'll find yourself on the receiving end of my fist." She turned to Cid, "Please, continue Cid."

Cid glowered at Kinoc. "We agreed to work with Maestor Seymour because he understands the prejudice between our people must end if Sin is to be stopped at all. We did not agree to work with Mika or you. My people are not participating if Seymour says the mission is canceled. And we are taking our machina with us..." He turned to leave for a moment before turning and punching Kinoc in the mouth before the man could react. "And a Maestor should not hit a girl!"

Melinda applauded with Yuna and Rikku. "Brava, Mr Cid, bravissima."

Baralai chuckled. "I don't know what that means but I agree with her. Kinoc I see no problem in canceling the mission if it would lead to death and failure. Nor should you as a servant of Yevon."

Lucia smirked, "My twin and I made a fake language so that if we needed to communicate without others knowing what we said… we could do so. It means good, very good."

Kinoc put a hand to his mouth before pulling away to see blood. He glowered before turning to Lucia, "It's all you and your ways turning Maestor Seymour and Cid! I'll see to it that you face the trial! Mark my words!"

Her glare was equally deadly, "You'll have to get me first and if you try to put a hand on me, I will see it as you trying to assault me." She sent a meaningful look at her gloves. "You would do well to not touch me."

Baralai stepped between them. "Yes, do mind your manners Maestor Kinoc. Or would you shame Yevon by harming helpless women?"

Mindy took out her staff. "Yeah you leave me and my sister alone! You just don't like it that we won't let you sacrifice innocent lives just to make people dependent on the corrupt church! Maestor Seymour, Maestor Kelk and Sir Baralai are the only good men in the church."

Lucia looked squarely at Yuna, "To end Sin, we must end the cycle of grief that follows. We can't let you die, because the grief will consume and become Sin again. So you can't use your Final Summon. We will find another way, but this just wasn't it nor the place."

Yuna glared at Kinoc. "I will not give up on my pilgrimage but I will not let you sully my father's memory by letting this madness continue. Sin will be stopped for good."

Kinoc glared as he only had one response, "I see that Grand Maestor Mika was right about these two strange women. You let them deeply into your group and they will kill us all!"

Lucia spat, "Shut up. Sin's here." She pointed out to the edge of the water where they could see Sin approaching as everyone came into the rock cliff base to hide as it came ashore with it's monsters, and upon finding nothing to fight, it left just as quickly. Once it was gone, Lucia turned to the men, "Doubt me now then? Think about how badly outnumbered your people would have been to that force!"

Baralai watched as the beast disappeared into the distance. "The Al Bhed would have been all but destroyed."

Seymour nodded, "Right. And thankfully we had those… mechanical failures…" He chuckled a little as he watched Melinda.

Melinda smiled. "Yevon was certainly guiding those machines today, don't you think?"

Melinda stepped forward to Cid and bowed respectfully. "Ed ec yh ruhun du saad Maytan Cid uv dra Al Bhed. Dryhg oui vun cdubbehk drec sythacc."

Cid smirked, "Yr cu oui ghuf Al Bhed. Ed ec y bmaycina du ramb dfu ouihk myteac dnoehk du tu fryd'c nekrd. Dryhg oui vun ehvunsehk so tyikrdan uv drec cediydeuh cu dryd E luimt ramb cdub ed."

Melinda smiled kindly. "Famm haedran Luci un socamv luimt ymmuf rihtnatc uv ehhulahd, oad pnyja yht hupma mejac du pa mucd. Ev drec ubanydeuh ryt yho ruba uv cillacc, Mika fuimt pa rana rescamv. Kinoc ec uhmo rana palyica dra knayd yht feca Seymour Guado yddasbdat du lymm ed uvv. Kem du tuhidc Kinoc fuimt ryja mavd essateydamo yvdan dra pyddma pakyh."

Cid laughed, "Well done! And I wholly agree to that statement Melinda. I think it's time to review the actual teachings Maestor Seymour. Time to stop this useless fight and figure another path to save us all from Sin. Now, as thanks I'd like to lend you the use of my small ship to expedite the pilgrimage for Lady Yuna. I expect you all to end Sin for good and bring an Eternal Calm. I will help you however I can in the future."

Kinoc growled. "Maestor Seymour! You and your little sluts are really pushing their way to the Via Purifica! You should have been thrown there before for the murder of your father!" He stomped off.

Baralai glowered. "You are working your way to the same Kinoc! Disrespecting women! Insinuating doing harm to them. Quite against the teachings."

Lucia growled as she spat at Kinoc, "You are a liar, and thus I will not trust anything you say. My visions can't show me the past, but considering how you just lied, and you're more than apparent biased opinion of Maestor Seymour, you're lying."

Seymour closed his eyes. "Lucia, ignore him. The past is the past and can't harm me anymore. I know though, these two ladies are not sluts. You say that again and you will find yourself on the way to Via Purifica yourself."

Kinoc turned around. "I know the truth Seymour! I know that you killed Lord Jyscal, a Guado ten times the man you will ever be!" He glowered. "The only reason you weren't executed for it is Mika felt sorry for you!"

Lucia glared at him. "You better watch your mouth Maestor Kinoc and not spread any more lies. Or I promise, you won't like the next truth to leave my lips. No one will."

Kinoc glowered at the woman before continuing on his way, silently promising that he would kill Seymour himself, one day.

She sighed as she looked down at her gloves. There had to be proof that Seymour didn't kill Lord Jyscal. She had to find it. A look to her twin said Melinda felt the same way.

Yuna looked at Seymour, now that the chaos had died down. "It's not true is it? You wouldn't kill your own father?"

Seymour sighed, "It is true. I killed him, but it was an accident… I was training where I shouldn't have been, and he died trying to help me. It's my fault as such, and thus I killed him."

Melinda gasped and ran to him. "No, no, no. You didn't kill him. It was an accident and you can't be blamed for that. Kinoc is wrong to blame you, isn't he guys?" She looked at the others.

Lucia nodded, "An accident is never your fault Seymour, just ignore Kinoc and Mika. They're wrong to blame you."

Yuna nodded, "They're right Seymour, let go of the past and don't blame yourself anymore."

Baralai looked at Seymour. "They're right. If the situation was reversed. If perhaps my father had died to save me because of a similar situation, would it be my fault?"

Seymour shook his head, "I went to a forbidden area to train! That's why it's my fault! I should have known better! If I hadn't, he wouldn't be dead!"

Mindy looked at Seymour. "No! It's not your fault. It was a terrible tragedy but you didn't know it would happen. You had no idea. It was just rotten, horrible luck. We all do things we shouldn't."

Lucia frowned, "We should really move this talk elsewhere. I know Lady Yuna has to go to the Djose Temple and pray to the Fayth there… but after that, we could go to Guadosalam where we could talk and figure this out without worries of ears listening in who seek to do Maestor Seymour harm."

Mindy nodded at her sister. "Cid, I am so glad you and Rikku were able to tell the other Al Bhed to stop. Thank you for having a head on your shoulders."

Cid nodded, "You're quite welcome and yes, we should go. I have no doubt the Yevonites will be angry that we backed down, even though it was the right call. I'll go my own way with the others from Al Bhed, you go onwards to Djose and try to get the next Summon. We will meet again soon when it's safe." He quickly left the area.