It has been twelfth years since the gang arrived in the dimension that they now call home. With some differences changing them the gang have adjusted to there new life. But something is lurking in the shadows that the team have never experienced before. But the silence of the night was broken by a certain girl who will find her life will change forever in the coming days.

"ARRRRRRRR!" Lily quickly got up clutching her bed sheet, sweating while panting heavily, the door then quickly opened with her mother walking though. "Lily what's up?!" The raccoon simply rubbed her eyes. "I just had a nightmare is all." The leopard held her humming a soft tone. "Mum I'm not four anymore, I can go to sleep without that song."

"I know but can't blame me for doing it. You always loved that song." Lily pulled the sheets over her head. "That was when I was a baby, but I'm twelfth now." Rivia then walked to the door shaking her head. "Well try and get some sleep tonight, you keep waking both me and your father up."

"I'm sorry I should be ok now." Rivia then flicked the light off and closed the door, but Lily remand awake wondering what the dream was about. "It was like I was literally alive in that dream, that's not possible is it?" She simple sighed and went back to sleep.

Lily's dream

The raccoon eyes opened wide seeing she was at her school. "Weird I never have dreams about this place. Well only when I didn't finish the homework or anything." She walked to the doors, pushing them open to see the building packed with kids. "Wonder if, yes she is here Beth, Beth!" The raccoon then ran inside to join her cousin who was talking to a bulldog and a panther. "Hey Lil what's going on?"

"I could ask the same isn't it Sunday today?" Bethany nodded. "Why are we here then?"

"Because Lucem said so." Lily gave a strange glance at the distant seeing a strange white light around the corner. "Err right, umm question who's Lucem?" The bulldog, panther, and raccoon began laughing. "We better get moving see ya later Beth." The two left the raccoons to it while they walked off in the opposite direction. "Lucem is the one who gave us all of this. What didn't your mother tell you?" Lily gave a funny look at Bethany. "Why would she know this least of all why would she hide it?"

"Maybe it's to protect you from yourself."

"What, what's that surpose to mean?" Bethany then walked off leaving Lily scream down the hallway. "Hey I'm not done talking with you yet!" She turned around to Lily and as she turned Lily's face turned from angry to shock and horrified seeing Bethany's eyes change from hazel brown to dark red. "Well I'm done with you." The raccoon then brushed her hand in the air distorting the dream into a dark world. "What? Where am I, what is this place?"

"Do not worry I'll protect you." Lily turned to see a small light moving slowly towards her, she then moved backwards away. "Stay away from me! I'm warning you." As it got closer and closer Lily opened her eyes and awoke in her bed.

Inside Rivia's house

The raccoon rubbed her eyes and took a good look around the room. "Why am I having these dreams they been going on for how many months now. I guess it's just a thing I'm gonna have to deal with." Lily got out of the bed and quickly got dressed in her typical jeans, simple blue t-shirt and a green jacket. After changing she walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, pulling up a chair at the table. Rivia then placed some toast in front of her. "Thanks mum."

"Don't mention it oh don't forget your going over Sly's today."

"Why's that?" She picked up the toast taking little bits out of it." Your school project with both Bethany and Trevor remember?" The raccoon then swallowed the toast and nodded. "Yeah I remember now, it was that stupid assignment to build a model of a famous building and Trevor had to pick the hardest to "impress" some girls in the class." The leopard just chuckled. "Well I must say he's got some ego on him, I have no idea where he get's that from." Lily then got up and walked out to the next room seeing her father there. "Hey dad what's going on?" The raccoon just turned around and looked back to the TV. "Just planning the next heist, Sly and Bentley told me to look out for some museum that's going to be shown on the news." The raccoon then walked up to her father holding onto his arm. "What do you want?"

"Nothing get's past you I see. Can I come with you?" Malcolm shook his head. "Defiantly not this isn't a casual get in a steal one thing, we're stealing a valuable item that's being held on display, surrounded by guards and other secretary."

"But I can help! I got some skills to you know!" Rivia walked in grabbing Lily's shoulder. "You heard your father it's too dangerous, perhaps next time." Lily mood then change from a happy to depressed she then walked to the door, opening it and walked outside. "Where are you going!?"

"I'm going to uncle Sly's house, might as well since there's nothing to do here!"

Streets of Paris

The raccoon walked looking down at the ground, it wasn't the first time Malcolm said no to her. She began to remember the times she asked and was refused over and over again.

"Daddy can I come to uncle Sly's to?"

"No sweetheart." Lily's eyes began to water. "But I have a better job for you." The raccoon bent to the floor and looked at the young raccoon. "I want you to look after your mother while we're gone, can you do that?" Lily nodded with delight and hugged him. "Come back safely." Malcolm chuckled softly and then got up leaving both wife and child alone.

"Why doesn't he ever take me? Sure I was young back then but I'm twelfth now, I can look out for myself and thanks too both aunt Carm, uncle Sly, and uncle Murry I'm good when it comes to fighting." She then began to punch the air and then turned around hitting the air but accidently punching someone in the process. "Oh god I'm so sorry!" Once she ran over to whoever it was she began to breath a sigh of relive. "Oh good it's only you Trevor."

"Ow what's your problem?" Lily then got the tiger to his feet, he quickly brushed himself off. "It's dad again he's going of on another heist and he wont take me."

"And your surprised."

"What's that suppose to mean!?" Trevor walked with the raccoon next to him. "Every time you do the same thing over and over again. Besides those heist aren't nearly as good as the ones I hear from Beth." Lily gave a confused expression to her cousin. "Wait she tells you about Sly's heists but doesn't tell me?"

"Well you do over react to things." Lily just walked along the path with the tiger sighing. "This is what I'm talking about. Wait for me!"

The two finally made it to Sly's house, Lily knocked on the door waiting for a few minutes until Carmelita opened it. "Hey you two how's it going?"

"Ok auntie Carm is Beth in?" The fox turned shouting in the house. "BETHANY LILY AND TREVOR ARE HERE! Why don't you come inside." Carmelita then walked inside with the two following inside the house.

Inside Sly's house

Even though both Lily and Trevor have been inside the house many times they could never get over the amount of stuff littered over the walls. "Are these all the stuff that uncle Sly steals?" The fox crossed her arms and turned to her. "Well technically he's not stealing he's taking this stuff from gangs and thugs who intended to sell this stuff off to underground gangs."

"And that doesn't count as stealing?" Carmelita looked down to Trevor. "Sly brings this stuff home, then when I go to work I deliver it back saying I tracked down whoever stole it. Let's just say Sly's using his skills for good and not for any selfish reasons on occasion of course."

"Well, well it seems we have guests." Lily turned with a smile. "Uncle Sly!" She ran to the raccoon who picked her up, raising her in the air. "How's my favourite niece doing."

"estoy bien tío Sly." (I'm well uncle Sly.) The older raccoon put her down with a cocky grin. "When did you start to learn Spanish?" Lily giggled whilst giving an even cockier smile. "Mamá me enseñó un poco después de que ella me enseñó a hablar francés." (Mum taught me a little after she taught me to speak French.) He laugh while shaking his head. "That Rivia has to do things the hard way for everyone." The sound of footsteps turned everyone's attention behind them seeing Bethany. "Hey you guys why are you here so early?" Lily shrugged. "Cause why not. I want to talk to you upstairs about something." She nodded and the girls ran upstairs followed by the tiger.

Bethany's room

The three kids sat in different places. Bethany sat on her bed, Lily sat on a chair nearby, while Trevor sat on the floor. "So whatch wana talk about?"

"You talked to Trevor about your dads heists but not me." Bethany bit her lip knowing where this was going. "I didn't say anything cause I knew you'd get upset and besides there not all as great as you think."

"And how would you know anyway?" The raccoon gulped realising she's put herself in the frying pan. "Well I umm I go along sometimes." Both Bethany and Trevor could see the anger pouring from the raccoon both fearing for what might happen. "Look Lily calm down, there's no point getting angry over this." A single tear then rolled down her face with the two gazing. "Your right but, but it's." She placed her head in her hands as she cried. "It's just not fair!" Bethany and Trevor felt extremely awkward both looking at each other and whispering "Go over and hug her."

"What!? You do it. Your her cousin Beth."

"So are you, you idiot!" The two turned to see she recovered and wiped away both tears and snot from her face. "I just wished I could go on a heist or something. I want the excitement that uncle Sly, uncle Bentley, and uncle Murray had when they where young." The young raccoon pondered and clicked her fingers. "I got it let do our own little things."

"Uh what do you mean "little things?" Bethany got off the bed. "You know. Our own little heists, just us three after all we're from a family of thieves." Upon saying that the glint came back to Lily's eye and she jumped up. "Yeah let's do it. Oh and let's not tell anyone about this especially our parents."

"Agreed but first things first we need a base, equipment, and the most important of all a place to steal from. Any suggestions it has to be something easy but not to easy." The two began to ponder until Trevor got up. "What about the school?"

"What, why the school of all places?"

"Think about it, we're there all the time on week days, we know the school inside and out, and the principal must have something that's worth stealing right?" Lily realised why he wanted to steal from the school. "He took your videogame didn't he?"

"Hey he stole it from me and I'm pretty sure the Cooper family motto states you steal from those who deserve it right?"

"But he's just doing his job Trevor there's nothing wrong with that." The tiger gave a grin. "Yeah but think about it. Didn't he take your notebook Beth." She remembered. She was sitting peacefully writing until the bear came along accusing her of not revising her work and "confiscated" her notebook. The raccoon then stomped her foot on the floor. "Your right it's our job as Coopers to steal from those who deserve to be stolen from." Beth put her hand in the middle followed by Lily then Trevor. "Ok tomorrow will discuses the plan but first we need to deal with that stupid assignment." The two raccoon glared at the tiger who rubbed his neck. "Sorry but the two girls next to me in class where giving me a look and well you know."

"So you though you'd impress them by making a model of the taj mahal out of tooth picks!"

"Well I." Lily stepped forward dumping down a bunch of paper and glue. "Uh why did you bring all of this?"

"I quickly talked to the teacher and convinced him to switch it from tooth picks too paper machete." Bethany turned to Trevor. "You got lucky Trev. If Lily didn't tell me that I'd knock you down so hard."

"Well I didn't realise this." The two looked at the tiger who began to grin. "I didn't know you had a crush on me Beth, can't blame you thou." The raccoon then punched the cat to the ground. "Please the time I have a crush on you is when the world ends and that's not happening anytime soon." Trevor got up with a smile. "Can't blame me for trying."

"Can you two work together for now and do this we have a lot of work too do.

Inside the school

The three carefully carried the small model though the halls with people walking past. As they kept walking Lily was then pushed over from behind causing the other two too fall as well. She then looked over seeing the model had been broken with the raccoon gritting her teeth. "Who the hell did that?" She turned around seeing a panda standing from behind. "Well, well look who it is girls the little bitch who thinks she's everything."

"Look who's talking miss "macho lip hair." The panda then jumped on Lily in anger punching her repeatedly on the floor. "I'll teach you to call me that!" As she pulled her arm up Bethany grabbed her hand and pulled the panda off. "Get the hell away from her Kasey." She then stepped forward. "Or what your gonna step up for this piece off shit. Typical always need help when you can't do anything for yourself." Lily got up off the floor and grabbed the raccoons shoulder. "Tag out, let me handle this myself."

"But." The raccoon pulled her back and wiped off the blood from her nose. "Don't worry it's just the same typical manly pre-teen girl who we all clearly think she's got the hot's for me." Kasey then charged at her but Lily stepped aside, quickly jumped and kicked her from behind sending her flying. "And just like everyday you always get knocked to the floor with the same kick. I'd though you'd learn by now."

"I did." Lily turned seeing the panda quickly grabbed her leg, pulling her to the ground. "So much for that kick Lily." The panda had the raccoon in a head lock but she just smiled. "Why are you so happy?"

"Because you left one place wide open." She then punched the pandas gut repeatedly until the arm around her neck was released. "Not so smart Kasey but then when it's you I don't except much." Kasey then got up from the ground with the help of two others. One female Alsatian whose wearied a elegant white top with a nice white trousers. She had her hair covered one side of her face leaving the other side visible. The other was a female peacock who wore mostly tarred cloths ranging from tarred jeans too a tarred jacket with a black top. Her hair was spike up with one side green and the other blue. "I'll get you some day Cooper trust me." The three then ran off with the raccoon taking some deep breaths. "When will that girl ever learn?"

"Lily you ok?" Both Bethany and Trevor walked to her making sure she was ok. "Don't worry about me can't say the same for that though." They all looked down at broken paper machete model and sighed. "What now?"

"We show him." The two turned to Lily. "What! But why."

"It beats telling him. "Hey Mr Hilburn sorry too tell you this but we left our project at home. Please can we go get it." Trevor nodded. "I see your point but he's gonna be pissed when he sees this."

"Hey Lily you got glue right?"

"Yeah. Oh I see will have it back to normal-well almost normal in no time." The two raccoons and the tiger quickly repaired whatever they could and rush quickly to the class."

The three quickly made it to their desks with the hedgehog looking though his paperwork. He then got up, taking a board pen and began writing on the white board. "Ok class today will be doing geography and I want everyone of you to come up in your teams to explain what your model is and where the model comes from. I also would like you to explain some of the history behind the building as well." Lily, Bethany, and Trevor gulped after hearing that. "Umm did anyone revise about India and the history of the Taj mahal by any chance?" Both Bethany and Trevor shook their heads with Lily face palming herself. "Ok why don't we start of with Lily's group." The three got up and braced themselves, quickly walking to the front of the class. "Ok so what is... that?" The three turned to the slightly broken model of the Taj mahal. "Uh well it's the Taj mahal it a palace in India."

"Ok but what can you tell me about it and the area around it?" Lily thought really quickly with only one thing in her head. "Well miss Cooper?" The pressure built up until she came out with something. "Well it's located in India and it's really, really... pretty looking." Mr Hilburn was not impressed and pointed to the threes desks. "I see you haven't studied. Detention after school for each of you."

"WHAT?" Lily then marched to her seat and crossed her arms in anger. "Stupid Hedgehog I like to see him get pressured into something and see him have to stand in front of everyone and explain."

"Hey Lily that might actually help." She turned still a little pissed from what just happened. "If we're in detention we can take advantage and sneak out and go to the principals office." Lily nodded and turned to the front. "It better be worth it."

Classroom after-school

The three sat quietly apart looking at the clock to get to four o'clock. Lily turned to see the hedgehog sitting gazing at the three which gave the raccoon an idea. "I need the bathroom."

"Fine but if your gone for more then a few minutes then you'll get detention tomorrow understand?" She nodded while walking out the door "Wow that was easy I'd thought he'd put up more of an argument, oh well." She quickly made her way to the principals office and quickly pulled out her phone which the teachers didn't see hidden in her leg pocket, which was hidden by her jeans. "Leg pockets never leave home without them." She quickly took photos of the door and outside the corridor then quickly knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"I have a message for you sir." Lily heard movement from the room as the door opened revealing the bear. "Yes miss Cooper?" Lily quickly thought of a excuse for the bear to leave his room. "Well how do I put it. The janitor asked me to well he needs your approval on something personal." The bears eyebrow raised. "On what exactly?"

"He asked me not to say anything he'd raver you go to him." The principal sighed. "Ok fine where is he?" Lily pointed down the hall. "He's in the cafeteria cleaning the back." The bear quickly walked down the hall leaving Lily only seconds to take pictures of the room but something caught her eye on his desk. "Well hello there. A letter aggressed to a Mr Alan Liam Artair. You are defiantly going on this phone." She quickly took a snap shoot and did some last minute checks but as she was about to leave she looked back to the letter seeing something interesting. "Hey this has uncle Sly's name on it." She took a quick look and then quickly took some more photos before putting the letter down and running out, getting back to the classroom.

Lily walked into the room with Hilburn giving a angry glare. "You where gone for quart of an hour, I'm fed up with this Lily tomorrow your going to be put into isolation with nothing but bookwork." Lily just tightened her fist she knew what she was about to do was risky but worth it in the end. "Fine sir can we go now?" The hedgehog looked up at the clock and nodded. "Fine you can go a few minutes early but I expect you here early tomorrow morning got it!"

"Yes sir." The three ran out of the class with Lily punching Trevor's arm. "Ow what was that for?"

"You'd had to pick the school the one place I'd waste my live just to get the things we need." The raccoon pulled out her phone showing the two what she got. "Great that's stage one but still we need to discuses other stuff. But not here let's talk tomorrow."

"You mean you and Trevor I'll be in isolation alone with at least something that will most likely lead to the principals office." Bethany nodded. "Ok while your in isolation me and Trev will gaver more details and stuff. If you can try to fine anything that may get you out off there like a vent or well anything."

"You'd think they'd put vents in the room partially in a small section?"

"Probably not but whose to say it's not above you or bellow. If I remember the sections have a small opening under the walls you should be able to fit under them." The three then walked to the door and exited the school. "Cool everything's set for now until tomorrow then." The three then separated going home but someone came out of the school behind them. "What are you planning Lily?"

Rivia's house

"I'm home!" The raccoon walked into the house seeing her mother first. "How was school?"

"I'm pretty sure you should know by now. They always call ahead." To which the leopard looked down at the girl. "Why do you get into so much trouble Lil you never was like this when you where younger." But the raccoon just moved aside walking around her. "I'm growing up mum you just have to get use to it." Rivia gave a sad glance. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"Hey hon what's wrong?" The leopard just shook her head. "It's Lily."

"Let me guess. School troubles again?" She nodded and turned to the stairs. "But this time I saw something different from before." Malcolm gave a strange look at her and then at the stairs. "What'd mean?"

"Well before she'd just move aside and say something like. "I'm fine I just want some privacy." But this time what she said had some meaning like she's seems content." The male raccoon just placed a hand on her shoulder. "I think your just over thinking it Riv. She's just being a girl." Rivia just nodded with a tear running down her face. "Yeah but she's being something I'd never thought she be."

Couple of hours later and the raccoon came back down sitting at the table. Rivia then placed a plate with spaghetti Bolognese in front of her. "Thanks mum." Lily then placed a fork full in her mouth. "Wow this is good usually when you make something like this it's well bad."

"Well thanks. It's from Sly, said he had to do something in Italy some time ago and ate at a restaurant. He then quickly stole the recipe and presto here it is." The raccoon shoved another fork full in her mouth. "My complements to the thief then." Minutes later as she finished eating, Lily noticed both her mother and father looking at her funny. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Well Lily you been acting really strangely lately and both your mother and I are worried." Lily gave a angry glare at her father and quickly got up from the table. "I don't want to talk about it."

"But why?" The raccoon turned and walked away from the two. "Because I said so!" But before she could walk up the stairs Malcolm grabbed her arm. "Uh-let go off me!"

"Not until you tell me what's got into you!" Lily tightened her other hand. "Nothing is wrong with me, but that's just typical me isn't it!"

"What's that suppose to mean!?" She then yanked her hand out off her fathers. "What do you think it means! NOTHING EVER HAPPENS TO ME!" She then charged up the stairs leaving Malcolm confused. "What is up with that girl?" He then felt Rivia's hand clenching his as she placed her other hand on his shoulder. "Well you haven't really been paying attention to her lately."

"Yeah but I've been helping Sly."

"Exactly, you've been paying more attention too your brother then you own daughter. No wonder she like how she is." The raccoon gazed at the floor it was like a slap in the face how could he not have seen it. "Oh I really screwed up haven't I... Then I'll make it up too her, tomorrow I'll spend the day with her, training her." The leopard kissed his cheek as she walked up the stairs. "I'll go check on her. I'll be back down after." Just as the leopard got up the top Malcolm walked into the other room sitting down on the chair. "How could I not have noticed I'm a terrible father."

"We all make mistakes Malcolm, we must learn from them." Malcolm then got up and looked around for the voice. "Whose there?"

"Shhh don't worry I'll make you feel better." A bit of air brushed against the raccoons cheek as a black whirl formed behind him. "I'll make everything better, you'll see." He then sat back down in his chair gazing at the floor, he then looked back up. "Hmm wounder what that was? Probable the wind, oh well I better prepare for tomorrow Lily's going to be surprised." Upon leaving the room a black shade formed in the room. "Yes don't worry I'll make all the pain go away." The shade then vanished into the air with a smile. "It won't go to waste though."

Lily laid on her bed in the dark curled up in a ball. She then heard a knock on her door. "Go away!"

"Lily it's me mum, open the door please."

"And like I said before GO AWAY!" But the leopard just knocked again. "You should know by now honey I'm just as stubborn as you are. So open the door now or we could be like this for a couple more hours your choose." The raccoon sighed heavily and got off the bed, marched to the door and unlocked it. "What do you want?"

"When did I teach you to be so rude Lily." However the raccoon didn't pay attention to her mother and simply fell on the bed. "Whatever if you got something too say then say it." Rivia shook her head and walked to the bed, sitting down next to her. "Look I know your sad Lil but you need to let people in."

"I do let people in. I just don't do it to you or dad as often."

"That's what worries me, I want you to tell me if you have any problems." Rivia attempted to place a hand on the young raccoons leg but she curled up into a ball again. "Mum just leave me alone I don't want to talk right now." The leopard sighed and got up moving towards the door. "Tomorrow will be better you'll see."

"Mum. Could you turn my light off... please." Rivia then switched off the light and then closed the door slowly. "Goodnight Lil sweet dreams." The room filled with darkness. Lily then slowly began to closed her eyes. "At least I can have exsitment in my dreams."

Lily's dream

Lily reopened her eyes seeing she was inside the school. "Why am I here again. Sure I know the heist is going to be in the school but still." She then proceed to walked though the endless dimlilted hall noticing only one thing. "There's no one around. No teachers, no students, no nothing weird." But something caught her eye. It was the same white light she saw when talking to Bethany in her other dream. "Not this time I'm gonna see what you are." She then gave chase following it around corner to corner until it stopped at a dead end. "Ha got you now." The light then vanished into the wall leaving Lily annoyed. "Oh come on really this is my dream! Oh right it's my dream." She then walked to the wall lightly touching it, the wall the rippled softly like water. The raccoon then placed her right arm in and out seeing no damage was done she walked though it.

"You can open your eyes now." Lily then slowly opened her eyes seeing small lights gleaming around her like stars leaving the raccoon in awe. "Wow I never dream of anything like this."

"That's because I made this place so we can talk." Lily turned around seeing a ball of light floating towards her. "Wait a minute your the same light I saw in my other dream just before I woke up."

"Yes that is I."

"What do you want?" The light drew closer and closer to the raccoon morphing slowly from light into a shape. "I wish too tell you the truth." The light morphed into a raccoon whose fur was not like anything Lily has ever seen. It was a snowy white colour and the black fur was instead light grey. "Who are you?"

"My name is Lucem and you need too know the story before she corrupts you to."

And I'm back! It feels good to type again and I'm especially going to enjoy this new story. So who is this black shade posing as Lucem and what is she doing? Will Malcolm own up to his words and train Lily and most important of all what did Lily see on principal Artair's letter that involves Sly? That will be explained in time. Until then see you next time!