Sorry for the late update. Even I need a break. We're in a fortress. Please read on.

Don't own anything except the concept of the story.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: YUAN'S FORTRESS

After dropping anchor, the group (excluding Presea, Captain Bryant and Tetra's crew because they got to take care of their respective ships), got together on Tetra's ship and made a battle plan. It was decided that since they had no idea about the fortress, staying together and locating Yuan was the best possible plan. They decided to infiltrate the facility at nightfall. Sailing carefully and avoiding the searchlights, they made it inside. Unknown to them that by the time they landed, Yuan was waiting for them.

"Like moths to a flame," Yuan said.

"That is so cliché," Raine replied.

"I know, can't you think of lines to say on your own?" Link asked.

"It doesn't matter!" Yuan exclaimed. "All that matters now is that you are my prisoners."

"Is that so? And you and what army?" Tetra asked.

A bunch of darnuts appeared behind Yuan, holding swords.

"That's cliché also," Genis added.

"That isn't helping," Wilder replied.

"Sorry sir…"

The group were locked away inside a prison, just like the one on Windfall.

"Why is the jail so small?" Raine asked.

"Budget cuts," Link replied. "Or maybe he's too lazy to have a bigger prison installed."

"How do we get out of here?" Genis asked.

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking…"

Aryll squeezed through the bars. "Big brother," she exclaimed, "I--"

"Not now, Aryll," Link replied. "I'm trying to think of a plan of escape."

"But big brother, I--"

"Aryll, this is serious. I have no time to play with you right now."

"But--"

"Aryll, no," and with that, Link went back to thinking in his corner. Raine took Link by the shoulders and shook him. "Will you look at your sister?"

Link turned around and saw that Aryll made it outside.

"Oh…" Link mumbled.

"Good work, kid!" Tetra exclaimed.

"How do I get you out?" Aryll asked.

"The lever located at the far side of the room," Genis replied. "Pull it down."

Aryll went towards the lever, when suddenly, two bokoblin appeared.

"One of the brats escaped!" Bokoblin one said.

"Pri--prison break!" Bokoblin two exclaimed.

"What do I do big brother?" Aryll asked worryingly.

"You must fight them!" Wilder replied. "Give them everything you got!"

"Uh…right!" Aryll began to use her Ruby Wand, dodging the attacks of the bokoblins. She cast a fireball spell but the attack went awry.

"Focus on your attack!" Genis suggested. "Then fire away!"

Aryll did what she was told. She hit one bokoblin and it disappeared in a puff of purple smoke. Bokoblin two knocked her to the ground.

"Aryll!" Link shouted.

"I'm okay…" she replied. Aryll cast an icicle spell. The bokoblin was frozen solid.

After they were defeated, Aryll pulled the lever down. Everyone rushed to her aid.

"Are you okay?" Raine asked.

"I'm fine…" Aryll said.

"Great job, Aryll!" Link exclaimed. "I never knew you knew all those spells!"

"Really?"

"Really, really…"

"I hate to ruin this heart-felt moment, but we have a job to do," Wilder replied.

They rushed into the second room, which was full of magitechnology. Genis, using his knowledge, gained access to the main computer.

"Let's bring up the fortress-wide map," Genis said.

"Professor, you're fantastic!" Link replied.

After pushing some more buttons, "I'll bring up the route leading to Yuan's room."

A few push of some buttons and…

"There's a route leading to an elevator heading to Yuan's location. It seems that you can only activate the elevator by pushing two switches which is at the other side of the fortress."

An alarm sounded. "Dammit. They've detected my access of the main computer."

"Link, what do we do!" Aryll asked. "The darknuts will be here any minute!"

"Dammit…" Link mumbled.

"It looks like we don't have any choice. Let's split into two teams to activate the elevator and to infiltrate Yuan's room."

"What! We're going to split up?" Tetra asked.

"There seems to be no other way," Wilder replied. "I would like to be in the group that goes after Yuan."

"Me too," Raine said.

"And me!" Aryll added.

"Link, choose for us," Genis said.

Link looked over the group, analyzing what tasks they would be best suited in. He picked Genis and Raine to go with him.

"And why can't I come?" Tetra asked angrily.

"There might be a mechanism that has a lock on it. Who else can pick locks better than you?"

"…I gotta admit…you got a point there."

"I wanna come too, Link," Aryll whined.

"It's too dangerous," Link replied. "I think you'll do better by activating the elevator locks."

"…Oh, okay, big brother."

"Governor Wilder, I hope you don't have any problems with your position."

"I will look after the young ones," he replied. "And the sea rat…"

"I heard that," Tetra replied. "Just don't go and break your back old man."

"We got work to do," Genis said. "Let's get moving."

The two teams separated and went to their designated areas.

Link's group:

Link's group ran to where Yuan was supposedly located. Hordes of enemies awaited them.

"This will take forever," Raine said frustrated.

"We have no alternative," Genis replied. "This is the only clear way to Yuan."

"Cut the chatter," Link said. "We got to get to Yuan fast. The longer we take, the less time it will take for the guards to capture us."

Both of them nodded. After a while, they found the elevator leading to Yuan's room. All of them got in, but…nothing happened.

"Why isn't it working?" Raine asked.

"The others probably didn't activate it yet," Link replied.

Wilder's Group:

"Why did the activation mechanisms have to be on other side of the fortress!" Tetra yelled, as she smashed a bokoblin to a wall.

"Maybe he likes doing things the hard way," Wilder replied.

"At any rate, let's get this over with," Aryll added.

First, they went through the right wing hall of the fortress. There, they found something guarding the switch mechanism. It looked like a machine. Quickly, it dispersed electric bolts shoot each of them. Finally, they managed to win.

"This is annoying," Tetra said frustratingly.

"Like I said before, Yuan likes to do things the hard way," Wilder replied.

After making their way to the other side of the fortress, they found the same machine guarding the switch and quickly disposed it.

"That's that," Wilder said.

"Now it's up to big brother and the rest of them," Aryll replied.

Link's group:

The elevator activated. "Let's go!" Link exclaimed.

After taking the elevator up, they were in front of two big doors. Pushing them open, they found Yuan and Lord Kratos talking through a hologram.

"Yuan!" Link exclaimed. "We finally found you!"

They ran up to him while the others ran into the room.

"So these are the inferior beings Lord Ganondorf was talking about," Kratos said.

"So…you're here," Yuan replied. He turned to the hologram. "I wish you stop changing the subject, Kratos. You've been stealing plans for the Mana Cannon!"

Kratos sighed. "I grow tired of your accusations, Yuan. As I already told you, I know nothing of it. It seems that Lloyd has talked you into one of his schemes."

Yuan chuckled. "Take heed, Kratos. Once the Mana Cannon is complete, you and Lord Ganondorf will be begging for our mercy."

"Don't be a fool. Lord Ganondorf cannot be deceived for very long." The hologram turned off. Yuan turned to the group.

"So…he knows. No matter. Once the Mana Cannon is complete, that idiot Kratos and Lord Ganondorf will be blown out of the sky. Even that eye-soar of a tower will be no more."

"What tower is he talking about?" Raine asked.

"The Tower of the Gods, I presume," Genis replied.

"But first, I must dispose of the inferior beings that stand in my way!" Yuan drew his weapon.

"You are not going to take this from me!" Link yelled, unsheathing his sword.

"Do you think you'll live through this!" Yuan asked, attacking with thunder explosion and various electric attacks.

"This guy is really tough," Link mumbled.

"I don't think we can win…" Genis replied.

"We will win," Raine said.

The three of them charged when Yuan used his master field attack. Link and Raine were knocked back while Genis lay unconscious.

"Genis!" Raine cried.

"We could use a little help here, Raine," Link yelled.

"What are you talking about?"

"That shadow thing of yours. Get her to attack!"

"I…can't…do that…"

"And why not?"

"You heard her. She doesn't want to kill anyone…that she knows well…"

"What are you two babbling about?" Yuan asked. "No matter, I'm going to end this…starting with the girl!" Yuan charged at Raine. Link was too injured to protect her. Suddenly, without warning, Shadow emerged out of the gauntlet and struck Yuan using the shadows she manipulated into a spear.

"Gah!" Yuan cried, "Colette…you inferior being…you would betray…Lord Ganondorf?"

"I didn't betray anyone," Shadow whispered. "I am under a new master now…I needed to protect her…"

"An inferior being…like her…is your new master?"

"She feels the pain…that I felt… so long ago. You can never understand…"

Yuan fell on the floor, presumably dead. Wilder, Tetra and Aryll rejoined the group.

"Are you okay?" Aryll asked.

"And how did he just die like that?" Tetra added.

"Uh…it was a miracle?" Raine replied.

"Funny," Wilder said, observing the body from a distance. "It looks like something pierced him."

Genis got up. "We'll figure this out later. Right now, let's set this fortress to self-destruct before the darknuts get up here."

They group left, leaving Yuan's body on the floor. The hologram machine turned on. Lord Irving showed up.

"Yuan," he said. "Thanks to you, the Mana Cannon will soon be complete. Oh…I suppose you can't here me anymore…hahahaha! Farewell! I hope you enjoy the afterlife!" The hologram turned off. The fortress exploded as the two ships left the area of the stronghold.

Wow, for me, this was a long chapter to write. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Please R&R.