Author's Note:

I'm back and I realize that I am trash for not updating sooner. I feel I must confess to you all that I haven't updated because my best friend has been trying to commit suicide and I've been her help hotline for the past few months. I succeeded (thank the powers that be) but I've completely neglected all of you and for that I'm deeply sorry. Not to mention a rather unfortunate case of writer's block. I hope this satisfies all of you until I can continue again. Without further ado Chapter 12!

Chapter Twelve: ABANDON SHIP!

Sly's POV:

So there I was, stranded on Commodore Ignatius' ship and watching Carmelita as she loses it. Don't get me wrong, Carmelita has neglected to control her temper on multiple occasions, usually with me at the brunt of it, but never like this. Never with such primal anger and hate, or eyes that looked like she was going to mangle the Commodore. Now, there was only one time when I saw a pitiful copy of this Carmelita. It was a case that was hitting multiple dead ends so Carmelita decided that I should be live bait if we were going to catch those crooks. It was a reasonable decision- of course I objected but Carmelita was very persuasive. However, the crooks weren't particularly comfortable with the idea of live bait and when I was captured they threatened to kill me. Naturally, Carmelita took exception to that and the look she gave the Commodore now was nearly identical to that one. She was shaking like a leaf long after the fiends were turned in and I held her all night not quite understanding why. But now, without the comfort of shared company and the shadows stretching on the walls, I saw her as she really was…a killer.

Ignatius cast a morose glance at her, as though he were unbelievably disappointed. He gestured at the weasel to raise my bruised body off of the deck. This one was definitely going to hurt in the morning.

"Throw that worthless raccoon into the brig" he sneered. I felt the weasel grab me eagerly and drag me into the depths. The cell was damp and small and the smell of old and salty wood was abrasive. My body received a horrible and unwelcome jolt and I bit back a moan of discomfort.

"The Ka'tin wants ye outta' his fur, so yer' gonna' spend the night in here!" The weasel's optimistic attitude was grating on my nerves.

"What happens next?" I growled "A short stop and a sudden drop?" The weasel cocked his head in confusion. Suddenly, the stairs creaked under the weight of the crocodile from earlier. The Commodore must've been doing something terrible to Carmelita. I threw myself, rather stupidly, against the iron bars. The crocodile grinned mirthlessly at me as I bared my teeth. "What is the Commodore doing to her?!" The crocodilian simply sauntered to my prison with a look of contempt in those yellow eyes.

"And why should I tell you? Clearly, you are an agent of 'One-Eye'." He spat a smelly glob on my foot and I recoiled in disgust.

"'One-Eye'? 'One-Eye' Cooper? What does she have to do with this?" At the name of my ancestor, I felt my spine quiver. If my ancestor was present in Carmelita's time line, then I could possibly be part of her whole life. This is really an equally terrifying and not totally unwelcome idea. The crocodile hissed throatily, a sound not unlike an exasperated sigh.

"How should I know? Commodore Ignatius has been tracking her scrawny hide for years now. He can't seem to catch her and he can't seem to avoid her. What does it matter anyways? When the Commodore receives his twenty-third tally, you will be next." He guffawed and then grunted softly in surprise. I barely had time to register what happened when he slumped against the bars and his weight broke it. Looming behind him in the shadows was an effeminate figure. The weasel also lay on the ground, and the figure gracefully climbed across the heap of reptile in her way. She stared me in the eyes and I couldn't believe my luck to be gazing on the face of Henriette. I couldn't help the strangled gasp I made when she put her cane threateningly against my throat.

"Who are ye? Why are ya' impersonatin' me?" She pressed the cane more firmly against my Adam 's apple.

"Believe me," I stammered "I had no intention to copy you. This is going to sound crazy but sometimes the truth is weird. The truth is I'm your ancestor and that girl the Commodore is threatening on deck is the reason I'm here." I closed my eyes and hoped she believed my farfetched story. Henriette narrowed her eyes but hummed in acknowledgement.

"So if yer' so chummy with the girl why are ya' down here…uh…"

"Oh it's Sly. Sly Cooper, but you already knew the Cooper part." I blushed slightly in embarrassment.

"Right," she smiled. "Well, Sly, it looks like yer' stuck with me because the Commodore will kill ya'. The girl has a better chance; she looks like 'im." She began climbing over the unconscious crocodile and I clambered after her. She stopped suddenly and pulled a blue cloth out of her pocket. She kissed the fabric and tossed it nonchalantly over her shoulder. It was so strange to see someone else do it and not me. "Follow me young'un. If we're quiet, the Commodore won't suspect anything." Henriette slid stealthily out of the porthole and I followed cautiously behind. I stiffened and hurriedly scrabbled back in. Henriette grabbed the scruff of my neck in annoyance. "What're ya' doin' Sly?!"

"My cane! My Father's cane! I have to find it!" I rushed towards the deck, the last time I had it, and Commodore Ignatius stole it from me. Henriette followed closely behind and we saw the weasel rushing back upstairs frantically holding Henriette's calling card. We both could feel the resentment practically oozing off of him.

"DAMN!" He howled to no one in particular. Henriette tensed next to me and hissed in frustration when we both saw my cane glinting on his belt. The Commodore grabbed Carmelita by the collar and leered threateningly into her eyes. "You will find me your target or so help me, vixen, I will personally tear you limb from limb."

"You can't do anythin' for her now, young'un. C'mon, we'll have to swim for me ship. With luck, you'll see her again." Henriette let go of the side and dropped soundlessly into the waves. I remained clinging to the side, completely terrified. From below I heard the scrape of her claws on the wood as she returned to my side. "What's the problem? Ya' can't swim?" I knew she meant it as a joke, but when I nodded my head furiously the smile faded from her lips. "Well, keep yer' head out of the water and hold on." I wrapped my arms around her neck and we both plummeted into the black and frothing water.

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for dealing with my issues and still reading my story. Please review and if any of you are dealing with what was happening between me and my friend please understand that the greatest comfort you could ever be is a listener. Sit with the intent to listen, not to answer and breakthroughs are made. Stay happy everyone! I will follow up as soon as I can.