Disclaimer: Sly Cooper and the Cooper gang are property of Sucker Punch and I am just using them to entertain the masses with a good story. I only own the character Todd and the other elements of the story I have created my self.

Chapter 9

The Flame of the Thief

The gang spent the rest of the week practicing the heist and reviewing their parts. By the time Friday came around they were all ready for the heist. They needed to leave for Strong Arm's hideout at 7:00, and it was 5:30 now. Sly, Bentley, and Murray were working on the Cooper van, making sure it was up to operating standards. While they were doing this Carmelita was on the second floor patio having a quick sparing match with Todd before they needed to leave. As they fought Carmelita got the feeling something was distracting Todd, and she finally asked, "Todd, what are you thinking about. You were a lot more attentive when you fought that block head of a constable back at Interpol."

Todd sighed as he sat down on the railing on the patio and said, "To tell you the truth there is something I think you should know something about your past."

Carmelita went over and sat beside him and asked, "What is it?"

Todd sighed as he pulled his glasses out of his pocket and said, "I did a little digging and I was able to trace your heritage all the way back to ancient Egypt."

Carmelita eyed Todd a second before she said, "And why are you snooping into my business."

Todd replied, "Easy, I didn't mean to offend. It's just after I saw how quickly you learned those master thieves moves I began to wonder. You see Sly possesses some called the Flame of the Thief. It is a unique quality that is a sign that the person who has it is a descendent of Slytencaumen, the one who originally had the Flame of the Thief. It was what allowed him to do the greatest of all Cooper family's thief moves. It's a technique that allowed the user to turn invisible and become completely undetectable until he chooses to move."

Carmelita nodded and said, "I can see that Sly is related to this Slytencaumen, but what does this have to do with me."

Todd sighed and said, "Slytencaumen had a wife, a beautiful fox that was Slytencaumen's ear on the inside. Being the Pharaoh's attendant allowed her to hear about the nobles and landlords that were mistreating or abusing their power. Those were the only ones that Slytencaumen ever stole from. They had a perfect life, and soon had a strapping young boy who Slytencaumen wished to teach the family business to. A few years after the boy was born they gave birth to girl, but before the girl was even three months old Slytencaumen had to take his son and flee to Alexandria or risk getting himself, his wife, his son, and his new born daughter imprisoned."

Todd paused a second before he said, "The girls name was Carlapatra, and she would grow up to be the head of the Pharaoh's royal guard, and the best guard the Pharaoh ever had. If we trace her family history her family stayed in Egypt until the great civilization fell and they whole family made the dangerous journey to Spain, where they remained through times hardship and times of joy until this very day. That was until a few decades ago when the youngest daughter of the family moved to Paris to join Interpol. She came here to chase down those who crossed the law, never knowing that her family can be traced back to the greatest thief in all of Egypt."

Carmelita jaw hung down as Todd finished saying, "Carmelita you have something that hasn't been seen in your family since the days of Slytencaumen. You have what no other Fox had, the Flame of the Thief. Though you have spent you life suppressing it, it still burns with an ancient power. It is still your life, and you can choose to be of the law or against it. All I can say is if you want to talk to someone, you can trust me to keep your secrets locked away until the end of time."

Todd stood up from the railing and walked over to the patio door, but just as he began to open the door he heard Carmelita say, in a very quite voice, "Thanks Todd."

Todd turned and smiled as he said, "Anytime Mrs. Fox. Now, we should get changed. We have a big party to get to, and a few things to pick up while we're there." Carmelita nodded her head and followed Todd as he went through the door. Carmelita popped into her room and a few minutes later came out in a long black dress. It was a sleeveless design with a slit that went up the side much like the dress she had warn to Rajan's party back in India.

As Carmelita walked by the boys' rooms she caught Sly as he was leaving his room, dressed in a full tuxedo. Sly quickly noticed Carmelita's presence and said, "My, you look lovely this evening Carmelita."

Carmelita smiled and blushed slightly as she said, "You look quite good yourself Ringtail."

Sly smiled and offered Carmelita his hand as he said, "Shall we head to the party, I hear it is going to be one Strong Arm will never forget."

Carmelita smiled as she took Sly's arm and said, "You know what, I think it will be a memorable night for us two."

Sly and Carmelita walked through the garage and out onto the drive way where Bentley and Murray were waiting in the Cooper van and Todd dressed up in a driver's outfit and was standing by a limo Sly had rented for the job, and for his dear Carmelita. Todd opened the passenger door and said, "Hello Mr. Will and Mrs. Carmen Masquerade, or should I say Sly Cooper and Carmelita Fox. Your ride is waiting, and I do believe you two have a party to get to."

Sly nodded as he helped Carmelita into the back of the limo and Todd closed the door. Todd then walked around to the driver seat and he soon had the limo heading down the street toward Strong Arm's party, the Cooper Gang van not to far behind.