This is a work of fiction by me, not Sony, the true owners of Sly Cooper. Rated T for smoking, a censored birth, sad deaths, and suggestive elements. Everything else is clean.

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Sly Cooper: Legacy of Thieves

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Prologue

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Moonlight shined onto Cooper Manor. Approximately twenty miles north of London, England, Cooper Manor had served as a home for the Cooper Clan since its construction in the Victorian era under Thaddeus Winslow Cooper III. Officially, the Cooper Clan is a raccoon family of legitimate, multiracial philanthropists who have been accused, but not convicted, of many crimes consisting of thievery and vigilantism. Unofficially, the Cooper Clan's thieving reputation was not only fact, but had roots dating back to the times of the Egyptian Pharaohs as recorded in their ancestral guide book, the Thievius Raccoonus. The Coopers, however, follow a pervasive code of honor to only steal from other criminals; finding no honor, challenge or fun in harming the innocent.

Well built, yet extravagant, Cooper Manor had access to a personal airfield, an indoor pool, a personal cemetery, a state of the art security system, and other characteristics suitable for the home of the proclaimed master thief family.

Within the mansion's ball room, a small celebration was taking place for the entire lineage. Only two nights before did the family's patriarch, Augustine, and his second born son, Connor, succeed in their first heist together. Applauding as if on cue, Augustine, his firstborn son Michael, and daughter-in-law Cynthia greeted Connor with delight. Even Michael and Cynthia's two-year old son Perseus was excited to see his uncle.

Connor himself couldn't help but feel pride. Slightly muscular at the age of fifteen, he was a raccoon of medium height with a small goatee on his chin. Clad in a tuxedo for this party, he carried the jewelry box containing what he and his father had stolen from Italian Mob leader, Octavio, and his would've been fiancé from the Russian Mafia. His father, an aging man in his fifties with a mustache, wore a monocle on his right eye and attire fitting of a royal.

Next to Augustine stood Michael. Taller than his brother and father, he wore similar royal clothing with the exception of thin sliver-rimmed glasses rather than a monocle. His nearby wife, Cynthia, wore a princess-like gown fit for a night on the town. While her husband and in-laws had matching deep blue eyes, her eyes more closely resembled bright green emeralds. She also had short blonde hair falling down to her shoulders. These traits were inherited by her casually dressed son, Percy.

"Well don't just stand there, brother!" Michael playfully exclaimed. "Show us what you got."

The Coopers took their family traditions seriously. At the age of eight, a Cooper would inherit the Thievius Raccoonus. At fifteen, they would use what they had learned to work with an elder relative to steal their first item. And at seventeen, after constructing their own cane weapon, they would pull their own heist either solo or with like-minded thieves. Having turned fifteen a month before, Connor had traveled with his father to Venice, Italy, after hearing of the diamond encrusted rings Octavio had forged to cement his alliance with the Russian Mob. After a week of planning, Connor and Augustine successfully completed the heist, disguising themselves as members of Octavio's mob and replacing the priceless rings with forgeries.

"Okay, but you're might need some sunglasses," Connor replied as he opened the box, revealing the wedding rings.

Michael gave a short chuckle. "Not bad, Connie. Not bad at all."

Cynthia rolled her eyes at her husband's remark. "Men and their treasure. Still congratulations, Connor. What are you going to do with them?"

"That's a good question," said Augustine, getting up from his chair near the center table and placing his hand on Connor's shoulder. "Those rings are worth at least five hundred thousand euros. You can either sell them on the black market though ThiefNet, or place them in the Cooper Vault and wait until they're worth more. Your choice, Connor."

Connor thought carefully about his options. On the criminal website ThiefNet he could indeed sell the rings for a considerable profit in the short term. However, keeping them safe in the Cooper Clan's secret vault in the Pacific would work out better for him and his own descendants in the long run. After looking at his brother and sister-in-law, Connor smiled and stated his answer.

"I'll save them for my own engagement party."

Even Cynthia, who was reluctant at first marrying into a family of thieves, couldn't help but laugh.

"Very well, son," Augustine said after catching his breath. "How about we set sail for Kaine Island next month? For now, you and I could use some rest."

"Whatever you say, Dad."

"If only your mother were here to see this."

Connor paused for a brief moment. His mother, Sarah, who was a thief like the rest of the family, had died in a terrorist bombing a decade before in Afghanistan. The attack was masterminded by a sworn enemy of the Cooper Clan. Although Augustine had avenged his late wife in a capacity when he destroyed her killer's base of operations, nothing and no one could truly replace or restore her. Connor didn't remember her much, and there were times when he wondered if he would ever live up to any expectations his mother may have had of him. Despite his sadness, the young thief regained his composure and took a seat at the table with his family.

The next half hour was spent on eating, drinking, and casual conversation. During one such talk, the elder Coopers discussed Percy's future. Michael and Augustine were fond of the idea of Percy carrying on the family legacy as a master thief, while Cynthia proclaimed the wishes of her own family to see him succeeding them as the majority shareholder and chief executive officer of their international conglomerate, Van Coon Industries.

Connor couldn't help but notice the difficulty in Cynthia's eyes. Ten years older than Connor, her husband Michael had formerly spent much of his time in late high school and early college stealing from the less honorable criminals of the United Kingdom, until a chance meeting with Cynthia at Oxford eventually changed his mind. From that point on, Michael chose to devote his life to his wife and son, while putting his duties as a master thief on the side. It wasn't easy at first for Cynthia and her side of the family to process the challenges that would come from this union, but in the end they accepted Michael and his family for who they really were.

Cynthia's parents themselves couldn't attend the gathering due to a pressing meeting with England's Prime Minister. Nevertheless, Connor and his family were enjoying themselves greatly.

Suddenly, without warning, an energy beam struck the protective force field surrounding the mansion. The shockwave from the blast shook the mansion to its core, causing the family of five to reel in their seats.

"What the heck was that?!" Exclaimed Connor as he regained his balance, the rest of the family following his actions of reestablishment and confusion.

"I'm going to find out," said his father as he got out a data pad showing the security cameras. While clicking through the various camera views throughout the mansion, Augustine noticed an owl-like silhouette in the skies above the mansion. Upon zooming in on the image and enhancing it, Augustine saw something that made him drop the data pad out of shock. The Cooper Clan's patriarch was terrified, not for his own life, but for the lives of his family.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Michael asked in concern, his wife standing by his side with their child in tow.

"It's Clockwerk." Augustine said at last.

Gasps of fear erupted from Connor and the other adults in the family. Clockwerk was the name used by an immortal robotic owl who had hunted the Cooper lineage as far back as the era of Slytunkhamen Cooper I in ancient Egypt. Though nobody truly knew how the ancient owl had become the metal monstrosity he currently was, or where his hatred of the Cooper Clan emerged from, Clockwerk was feared all the same. No matter how many times the Coopers believed they had destroyed him for good, Clockwerk would always reappear, again and again, continuing the endless cycle until he succeeded in wiping out the entire Cooper Clan and annihilating their legendary thieving reputation. In the modern era, Clockwerk was considered a criminal myth by major law enforcement agencies on Earth such as Interpol. But the Coopers, their allies, and other individuals had long known the truth.

"But he can't get through right?" Cynthia asked worried.

Augustine shook his head. "The force field is strong, but not impenetrable." Releasing his silver, "C" shaped cane from his back, Augustine looked prepared to fight to the death. "I will hold him off for as long as I can. Use the tunnel and get the Thievius Raccoonus and more importantly yourselves out of here!"

"No!" The two brothers protested in unison.

"Let us help you!" Connor pleaded. He'd already lost the mother he never knew to Clockwerk. He couldn't stand losing his father as well.

"Connor, listen to me," his father said with sadness, yet resignation in his eyes. "I need you to keep our family alive. If you won't do it for your own survival, do it for Percy's," Augustine pleaded, pointing at his crying grandson for emphasis.

"At least let me stay, Dad." Michael said unleashing his own bronze cane. "I don't know if my being here will give you a greater chance of survival, but I have to take it!"

"No, Michael, don't!" Cynthia screamed. "I need you! And your son needs you too!"

Turning away from his wife and son, Michael pulled an old map from his father's sleeve before giving it to Connor. "Where's the book, Connor?" He asked.

Seeing the same resignation in his brother's eyes, Connor knew he had no choice but to follow his instructions. "In my room."

"The emergency elevator is close to your room. Take the book, the map, and my family now! Please!"

"I love you both so much." Connor said as he embraced both his brother and father, holding back tears.

Seeing the force field breaking, Connor took Cynthia's hand and they ran to his room. Finding the worn out book, encrusted with their family emblem, that was the Thievius Raccoonus on his book shelf, Connor and Cynthia ran to the fireplace where Connor pushed a lever disguised as a brick, revealing a secret elevator behind it.

Unexpectedly, Connor was pushed into the elevator as he carried the Thievius Raccoonus. Looking behind, he saw Cynthia kissing her son on the forehead in a tearful goodbye. She then passed her child into Connor's arms.

"I'm sorry, but I can't leave," Cynthia stammered as she pushed another disguised lever that would send the elevator down.

"Cynthia! No!" Connor tried to argue an instant before the doors closed and he was sent down below to the emergency tunnel. As he exited the elevator moments later, Connor thought of returning as well to aid the family, but decided that someone had to save Percy and preserve the family legacy. The tunnel lead to a hill just one mile outside London and was loaded with bombs on the ceiling in case the mansion's residents were being followed. Connor knew with a heavy heart that he would have to press the button at the hill entrance in order to activate the bombs and keep Clockwerk from chasing him and Percy.

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Back in the ball room, Augustine and Michael stood their ground in anticipation for the upcoming battle of their lives. As if preordained, the force field then shattered into pieces, allowing Clockwerk to smash straight through to the ball room. The metal monster landed hard, causing shockwaves that unbalanced the two Coopers momentarily.

The ancient owl gave a sinister laugh as his yellow eyes caught Augustine and Michael. "Augustine Cooper," Clockwerk said in a sinister, mechanical voice. "It's been a long time. And this must be Michael, he looks quite charming. Where is your other child, Augustine? I was looking forward to snuffing the life out of him as well."

"Drop dead." Augustine said in a tone of barely restrained anger.

Clockwerk merely laughed again, "If you insist."

As if on cue, a swarm of Clockwerk's Robo-Falcon creations flew into the mansion from behind their master and attacked the Coopers. Using the many moves they learned from the Thievius Raccoonus as well what they have developed through their own initiative, Augustine and Michael fought to their breaking moment until all of the Robo-Falcons were destroyed. The two brave men were unfortunately unaware that the robots merely gave their master enough time to fire his laser emitters.

Focusing a fraction of his power on Michael, Clockwerk fired in the younger Cooper's direction, only to be surprised at what happened next.

Seeing the laser, Cynthia, who was watching the entire time, ran between her husband and the deadly attack. The lethal energy beam struck her back, causing her to drop dead instantaneously.

"No, no!" Michael stammered as he placed Cynthia's lifeless head in his hands. Staring into his wife's lifeless emerald eyes that once gave him hope, his will was shattered.

Clockwerk sadistically chuckled at this predicament as he fired again. This time, the metallic owl focused his energy beam on the ceiling above Michael and his dead wife's body.

Unable to move out of a combination of shock and grief, Michael stood petrified as the rubble from above crushed him.

Augustine's blood boiled in anger as he rushed in to attack Clockwerk with all of his remaining might.

Skillfully dodging the owl's electric ring launcher, Augustine smacked Clockwerk's head with his cane repeatedly until the mechanical monster grabbed him with his right talon.

"Where are the others?" Clockwerk hissed, applying pressure to the old Cooper's ribcage.

"I said it before and I'll say it again: drop dead!" Augustine barked valiantly while choking for air.

His patience expired, Clockwerk squeezed the elder raccoon in his metal talons until he could move and breathe no longer.

After dropping the corpse on the floor, Clockwerk searched the rest of the mansion for the son of Augustine until he heard a loud explosion; seeing the ground outside splinter as a result. Investigating with his x-ray vision, Clockwerk discovered an elevator latch in the fireplace and fumed with fury at the fact that his prey had eluded him yet again.

"No matter," he thought silently. "I will find them in time." And with the unfolding of his large metallic wings, Clockwerk flew straight through the ceiling and into the night sky.

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Within London stood a tall apartment complex suited for the wealthy and powerful, the Crown Jewel. Grand to the point of self-indulgent, the building's penthouse was occupied by none other than the owners of Van Coon Industries, Margaret and James Van Coon. The couple had just returned from an important meeting with England's Prime Minister regarding the new security systems and non-lethal weaponry their corporation had been lobbying with for quite some time. Their meeting a successful one, they were ready to retire to bed when a knock came at the door.

James, a muscular, yet aging raccoon in his mid-fifties, walked to the door and opened it, revealing a teary eyed guest who carried an infant raccoon with him.

"Connor? What are you and Percy doing here?" James asked in astonishment.

"Something terrible has happened," Connor said, finally releasing all of his pent-up tears.

Walking their relative by marriage to the living room sofa, James had his wife, a woman of equal age and greying blonde hair, carry their grandson to their guest bedroom where a cradle was waiting for him.

"Now tell us what's happened. Where are Percy's parents and your father?" James asked, great concern in his tone.

Regaining his voice, Connor went into detail on the tragedy that had taken place earlier at the mansion, all the while tears erupted from the elder raccoons as they learned of their daughter's brave sacrifice and the last stand of their son-in-law and brother-in-law.

"I'm so sorry," Connor said, his eyes puffy from crying. "I wanted to go back, but I had to think of Percy first."

After a long moment of silent sadness, James went to the refrigerator for some water, offering some for Connor and Margaret as well.

"I think the last thing our Cynthia would've wanted was us blaming you and your family for what happened," James stated, thinking of his compassionate daughter

Margaret couldn't help but nod in agreement. "You and Percy are welcome here."

Connor shook his head, "If I stay here with the book and the map, none of you safe. I have to leave and Percy needs to have his identity changed."

"What did you have in mind?" Margaret asked.

"As far as anyone knows, Perseus and Connor Cooper died in the tunnel collapse. You're going to have to use some of that new tech you've been making to change Percy's appearance, or at least his genes. From this day forward he's not your grandson, but your adopted heir Archimedes Van Coon. Will you keep him safe for me and for your daughter?"

"Of course," James replied without a second of thought. "But what are you going to do?"

Connor then left the sofa for the door. As he exited the penthouse, James and Margaret could hear Connor's final words to them.

"For the first time in my life... I don't know what to do."

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To be continued

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Behind the scenes

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I know Sly's dad hasn't been given an official name, but I figured Connor Cooper might be canonized soon. As for Perseus, I want to add a similar character in the next Sly game once I invest and buy stock in Sony. It'll take time of course, but I can wait. Augustine was a character mentioned in the Thievius Raccoonus. Aside from him, Octavio, and Clockwerk all the other characters are created by me. In time, you'll see that I've based my story on several other fan fictions. I'm sure you can connect the dots soon enough.