Chapter 21: Our new plan

We landed safely on the ground. From up above it seemed very high but it really wasn't.

"Now I know I can count on you" sighed Auron at Tidus

"Gimme a break" Tidus said, swinging his arm "I just woke up. Like you did much"

"It was your idea to fight that thing" said Auron turning the opposite way "If you're always so groggy, just stay awake"

"Yeah right, thanks for the tip" Tidus looked down

I looked up as a yellow feather slowly glided and landed in front of me. It meant for the sign of failure. There was a brick pathway where we were standing. As we walked farther the more Chocobos there were. They were really popular these days. Then we saw Lucil

"What are you doing on this road?" she asked like we were in trouble

"Oh, you know..." said Tidus

"I see...The high road ends over there" She pointed farther down the path we were on "However, we have sealed off the area beyond for the duration of our operation here. You may ask the gate captain up ahead if you need to pass through"

We nodded and then continued. There was the gate. But Dona was in front of it yelling at this guard

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm a Black mage!" she yelled

"Sorry m' aam! No exceptions."

"You dare to impede a Black mages Pilgrimage?" asked Dona

"Sorry m' aam! No exceptions" repeated the guard

"Useless!" Dona turned around and saw me "Oh, it's you. As you can see not even Black mages can pass. But they'll call on us in the end. Just wait and see. In the mean time I think I'll have a nap" She ran off

There was one thing I figured out that day. I was not the only Black Mage out there. People just knew me better and trusted me better. It was a time limit to defeat Sin. The four heroes well, I guess to people they didn't mean much. The White Mage, Black knight and White warrior, there was a purpose between them, to protect me. They were worth everything to me. I thought there was only one Black mage. I guess I read everything wrong.

We went up to the gate

"Gatta and Luzzu reporting sir!" said gatta standing beside the big carriage saluting to the guard

"This is the last of them." Said Luzzu

Inside the carriage was this red bug fiend it looked like an oversized cockroach.

"Good to have you with us." Said the guard "Go on through"

"Hey, show me how to play Blitzball sometime" Gatta yelled to Tidus

"Wait around; we'll have sin beatin in no time" Added Luzzu

I waved goodbye. They pulled the carriage through the gate. We walked up to the Guard

"Hey, you're a Black Mage and her guardians, right?" asked the guard "Sorry for the inconvenience"

"Tell me about this operation" I said

"What, they didn't tell you?" asked the guard surprised "We're bringing sinspawn from all over Spira here. Sinspawn inevitably draw sin, right? We're going to lure it into a trap!"

We started to walk threw the gate but the guard stopped us.

"I'm sorry" apologized the guard "I can't let you threw"

We turned around. Very disappointed because this was the place we needed to go but we were at a dead end. We took a few steps forward then we saw Maester Seymour

"So we meet again, Lady Sandra" said Seymour

"Y-yes" I stuttered

"You look troubled. Is there anything I can do?"

"Uh, well" I looked back at the gate

"I see..." said Seymour walking up to the gate guard

I just stood there...wondering what he was going to do.

"Maester Seymour, Let me show you to the command Center" said the guard

"Hold" Seymour ordered "I have a request"

"Yes, your grace?" asked the guard

"I would like for you to let Lady Sandra and her guardians to pass threw this gate"

"But Maester Seymour, sir!"

"Do not worry" he replied "I will keep full responsibility"

"Very well then, they may pass"

Seymour turned around to face us

"It is done" he said

"Thank you, your grace!" I bowed very quickly

Maester Seymour walked threw the gate down the path. I just stayed there bowing even though Maester Seymour was already gone.

"Sandra, its time to go" said lulu putting her hand on my back

"Oh! Right!" I got straight up wondering why I was just standing there bowing to nothing

"Who does he think he is?" Tidus asked Niko folding his fist

"He's a Maester, better get used to it, ya?" replied Niko

We continued down the path. As we were walking we saw Maester Seymour end up in a crowed of people all saluting him

"All hail Maester Seymour!"

"Brave Crusaders of Spira, protectors of Yevon. Believe in the path you have chosen, let faith be your strength! I, Seymour Guado, Maester of Yevon, well bear witness to your deeds today"

"Sir!" Yelled the crowed

"What's goin' on?" asked Niko shocked "Whys Maester Seymour backing the Crusaders, eh? They're using the Al Bheds Machina! They're violating the teachings!"

"Even going against the teachings, they're willing to risk it for the greater good." I said "Niko, I think Maester Seymour sees that, too"
"Lulu?" asked Niko trying to get some help

"Hm... I can only speculate" She sighed

Niko put his hand on his forehead and looked down

"Ask him yourself" advised Auron as Maester Seymour walked up to him

"Ah, Sir Auron" He suddenly said "It is an honor. I would be most interested in hearing what you've been doing these past ten years"

"I got nothing to say about it" Auron Replied

"I...See" Seymour gazed at me "Sir Auron must be a great asset as a guardian"

I gasped loudly "Your grace!"

"Please, there's no need for formalities"

"Excuse me...Maester Seymour?" asked Niko coming up beside him and scratching the back of his head like he was nervous "Why is your Leadership...presently...present here...sir?"

"Please, speak as you normally would" Seymour said

"Isn't this operation against the teachings of yevon?" he asked "Aren't you gonna stop them?"

"It's true...I should" Niko crossed his arms like he was right "however...both the Crusaders and the Al Bhed truly wish peace for Spira. This operation Mi'ihen was born from what wish they share. Although it may be sacrilege to Yevon, Their intentions are pure and I, Seymour Guado—the person not the master of Yevon...As denizen of Spira, I wish them well in their endears"

"But, using Machina...that's bad, isn't it?" asked Niko

"Pretend you didn't see them" he replied

Niko gasped loudly "Beg your pardon, but that's not something a Maester should say!"

"Then pretend I didn't say it." He sighed again

"You're kidding!" yelled Niko

"For the first time I laid eyes on him, I never did like Seymour" thought Tidus "But you know, some of the things he said that day...They made a lot of Sense to me."

Seymour walked away as a guy named Clasko walked up to us

"Excuse me, Lady Sandra?"

"Yes!" I replied joyfully

"The command center, Maester Seymour requests your presence there, ma'am"

"Thank you" I replied

"Take that road to the command center, its not far" he pointed to his left to a cave "We're still in the midst of preparations this way, sorry"

We slowly walked into the cave. There were people going in and out of the cave getting ready for getting Sin into its trap

As soon as we walked in a woman walked up to us

"There is an increase of fiends in this area" warned the Woman "Please be careful"

The woman led her hand to a circle on the ground. We stood on it and water completely submerged it and it started going up to another level of the cave.

As soon as we got off a man jumped in front of Tidus

"Kimarhi!" yelled Lulu

Kimarhi was holding a spear and jumped in the air. He slammed on the ground and the impact was so strong, it pushed away Tidus. He then roared loudly warning Tidus to stay away. Tidus ran up to the strange man and was about to hit him but Kimarhi moved out of the way and Tidus missed.

"Enough you too" yelled Lulu

He just nodded. Kimarhi wasn't a normal person he was a Ronso. Ronso's are really half human and half lion type things

"What was his problem?" asked Tidus

"Sorry about that, that's Kimarhi, One of the Ronso's. We don't really get him much ethier. He doesn't talk much"

I slowly walked up to him

"Kimarhi, you are strong and fearless, do you accept to be my guardian?" I asked

He nodded and joined the group

We again regained our walking farther into the cave. The cave wasn't really that big but it was a really good shortcut to there operation place. I was so anxious to know what there plans were.