Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based retelling. The Sly Cooper series is created, and owned by Sucker Punch, and Sony Entertainment. Please support the official releases.

"Hijo de la… bruja! (Son of a… witch!)" Carmelita yelled out annoyed, after seeing another one of her shots bouncing off of the glass. She was sure that her bolts could utterly destroy it.

"Forget it guys. Neither of you can ever break that thick bulletproof glass." Bentley said to both thieves, as they stared annoyed at the key that was inside a pyramid shaped glass cage.

Before this, both thieves were exploring the hotel of Mesa City that they just entered, with both thieves exploring some more of the building that they just broke into, in order to find the keys that could help them get to Muggshot's penthouse. When they came across an elevator over a guard, that lifted them up to the roof of the tall building that was behind Muggshot's building.

Where after taking out another guard dog, and after looking around to see the scenery of the roof of the building, finding nothing special about it, other than the views of Mesa City from the roof, and the hanging cars, that hung on some strong cables for some reason, they ended up seeing the glass cage that they immediately saw, had a key inside of it. But the glass was thicker than they expected to where not even the stronger bolts from Carmelita's gun could hope to break the glass.

There was even Sly attempting to use his other tricks. All of which, failed. Leading to Bentley to reprimand them both for their attempts.

"How can we get that dang thing out?" Sly asked annoyed.

"Well it's simple. You're both going to need something heavy to break the glass. Like that wrecking ball above you." Bentley responded, showing them the large black wrecking ball above them.

"That'll work." Both thieves thought in delight as they had to find a way to make that wrecking ball drop down onto the cage, and see if it's enough to break the cage down, by getting to the crane.

They just looked around, trying to find a way to the crane itself. Which they did for a few minutes, when they saw the neon lights. Particularly, the orange one with the blinking lights in the middle, and an orange neon tube that also illuminated the sign.

Not to mention the other green neon light tubes on the letters that spelled out Muggshot's name on the roof of the building. As if the guards, and the citizens, (If there were any.) needed enough of a reminder on who his name is, and who the current Mayor of Mesa, is.

"Do ya bet we can climb on those things?" He asked.

Carmelita nodded with a grin. "I'm confident that we can. And we will."

Sly took her word for it, as they were now climbing on the neon light tube of the arrow, putting them on the upper section of the roof floor. Before they proceeded to climb on the neon letters of Muggshot's name, crossing them all to the other side of the roof, where the other upper section of the roof is.

In this situation, as they were climbing on the letters, they were relieved that there were no guard dogs with their guns with them, because they could've been screwed on the signs if they get caught. Or, they would be forced to get off of the letters, in order to take down those guard dogs, before continuing onwards on the roof, which would've wasted their time.

In a moment, they were now on the other end of the roof, where they were now on the last letter of Muggshot's name, where they climbed on the top of it, and jumped onto the tower together, knowing that they could jump onto the buildings on the roof, from there. If they climb higher.

So they did, as they were now on the second walkway of the tower and towards the top, which they noticed, was wobbling, and leaning. Much to their confusion as they wondered if it was a sign that the tower's upper section was going to fall, if they start to climb onto the top of it, or if it's just an illusion.

That didn't stop them from climbing onto the top of the tower, using the neon tube on it, as they were trying to get to the top, to see if they could jump from there. When it indeed ended up tipping over.

"OH CRAAAAAAAP!" Both thieves yelled out in fear.

Fortunately, it only tipped towards where they were facing, and not towards the direction of where they were grabbing onto it. Nevertheless, they were hopeful that the tower doesn't end up shattering like glass once it lands on the higher section of the roof.

Which, fortunately for them, it didn't, as it's upper section landed on the floor of the roof, without breaking, though it was a little bent from the impact. Nevertheless, despite the jolt from the impact of the upper section of the tower, hitting the floor, they were relieved that they didn't end up falling from the high tower to the floor below, where they would've suffered some broken bones from the landing.

"Are you okay, Carms?" He asked, catching his breath from yelling.

"Si… I'll be fine." She said, also relieved.

Once they caught their breath, they got off, only to see that there were a few guards that was on the roof, having gathered there, to see why the tower fell over, only to see them both climbing off it, to the floor of the upper section of the roof. And now they were bearing down on the thieves.

They were quickly ready, as they fought against the guards, most of which, were either the 2x4 guards, or the ball and chain guards. Both weapons were not really flexible, and didn't really become useful in this situation. Especially since the latter guards, kept on accidentally hitting their allies when they tried to hit the thieves with the balls, as they each parried the 2x4 blows before they could connect with their canes.

While in Carmelita's case, after jumping back on the fallen tower, she used her shock pistol against the guards, shooting them with her lightning shots, while making sure not to hit Sly as he fights them. Whom, took advantage of the fact that the section they were on, had enough room for him to maneuver around them, whether he'd jump over them, or duck under them to move behind them under their arms.

Or moving from under one of them to get some breathing room. Which is where he had an advantage in flexibility due to the space he used against them, as Carmelita gave him covering fire against them to even the odds, and put the fight into their favor.

Soon, the fight was over, both thieves were victorious, and they were now continuing onwards after briefly celebrating their victory. Where they were climbing onto another neon arrow sign, putting them on another higher section of the roof, where they were now walking their way onto the catwalks that were behind another neon sign on the roof, only it was saying casino on it, while having some dice, and a bone on it.

As they traversed the catwalk, they heard Muggshot's voice on the intercom. "I've got a personal message for de two-bit thieves, dat are makin' off wit' my treasure keys. YOU'RE BOTH DEAD, PALS! Once I get my hands on both of ya's, I'm gonna fitcha both wit' pairs of cement bunny slippers! Okay? Dat way, you're both gonna be sleepin' well wit' de fishes tonight. "YA BOTH HEAR ME?! YOU'RE BOTH LUNCH MEAT YA JERKS!" Muggshot's voice said on the intercom.

It was admittedly, a slightly intimidating threat that they heard, as they both were feeling a little nervous of what he would do to them both if they both get caught by him, considering the fact that none of them can swim. And even if they could, the heavy cement shoes would doom them into drowning.

But they were both confident that neither of them will get caught by Muggshot, as they continued to traverse the catwalks, using them to get to the pipes that they would climb on to go higher, and higher up the casino sign until they were at the top of the back of the sign, where they kept going, until they got to the back of the bone sign.

Seeing the crane on the roof of the building that was to their right, if they faced where the sign was facing, they felt that they could use the bone sign to get there, by making it tip over to that building, (Breaking through a wall in the process.) or to jump from it to there. So, after bracing themselves, they got on the back of the bone sign.

Where sure enough, it was tipping over to the building, where it broke the uppermost piece of the building's wall, showing another top floor behind it. Luckily for them, none of the bricks from the broken wall didn't land on them, as the wall broke away, before they jumped off of the platform on the back of the bone sign. Where a few more guards were standing.

Fortunately for them, some of the bricks from the wall, ended up landing on them, leaving a few more left. Which made things easier for the thieves to get there, and then clobber them all, when they tried to fight back against the thieves.

Once they were all clobbered, and beaten, the thieves knew that the crane was all theirs. And it was unlocked for them, so Carmelita took a seat in the crane, before looking over the control panel, trying to see which one she can use to lower the ball to break the glass.

All while Sly was on top of the crane's arm, and on the front of the crane, looking downwards to the ball. He was thinking about jumping down onto it, to see if he can swing it around, but he felt that it'd be a bad idea, so he'd rather call out, and sign to Carmelita on where to move the crane while safely on it. He just hopes that it won't fall down, and off the roof of the tall building, or they'd be screwed.

"Look for the one that makes the wrecking ball drop!" He called out to her.

"Got it!" She called back, looking around for the button, or lever that drops the ball.

Soon, Carmelita was doing some experimental pulling on the levers, causing the crane to move to her left, where the glass cage was. But she inadvertently kept moving left, and swung the wrecking ball into Muggshot's name sign, till it broke one of the G's in Muggshot's name off, into several pieces.

Sly was laughing as he successfully tried to keep a hold on the arm of the crane, at what just happened. As if stealing back from Muggshot wasn't enough, but now they just broke one of the letters off of the sign, like they were mocking him. If only he saw the carnage that just ensued here, he would've been enraged.

Then Carmelita slowly swung the ball back to where it was hovering over the glass cage that they were trying to break down. Now she was trying to find the button, or lever, that would make the wrecking ball drop onto it. When she found one of the levers, she pushed it, only for the crane's arm to extend a bit, much to Sly's surprise, and annoyance.

When she noticed, she tried to pull back, only, without thinking, she pulled a different one in a brief panic, causing the crane to swing left towards Muggshot's name's sign again, causing it to break the S letter.

Sly was continuing to laugh at the display. Feeling that Carmelita was doing this on purpose to mock Muggshot. Even if she wasn't, this was a hilarious accident that she made on the roof.

Carmelita was able to control the crane again as she was slowly swinging the ball back over the cage, after retracting the arm of the crane back to its previous length. Then she looked for the drop lever, or button, when she found the former that she guessed, did the drop and pull function for the crane, unlike the previous one she pulled. So, she pulled it down hard.

Sure enough, the wrecking ball dropped down on the glass cage, and broke the bars, and the glass of the cage. And luckily, it didn't break the key that they were after. Much to Sly's delight as he did a thumb up gesture to Carmelita, telling her that she hit her mark.

And little did they know, the ball landing on the building caused it to shake, and end up causing a bunch of hanging cars to suddenly fall downwards off of the building after their cables snapped off. While Sly merely climbed down the rope after confirming to her that the Key is free.

Much to her own delight, as she was getting out, and was running to the rope, before climbing down it after Sly, before they got back down to the low section of the roof, where Sly got the key, before putting it in his backpack with a flourish. Much to her joy.

*BANG* "Ow-rr"

The thieves were startled at the sudden noise of some cars breaking after landing from a high place, along with a guard dog's yelp. Causing them to look around, confused at what happened, not knowing of the hanging cars that fell from the roof they were on.

"What was that?" He asked.

"Me gana. (Beats me.)" Carmelita said, with a shrug, getting out of her startled state.

Then he looked at the letters, before giggling at the sight of the lack of a G, and an S in Muggshot's name. Due to the crane, and the wrecking ball's accidental swing against them. Which Carmelita later noticed, as she too giggled at seeing them. While being relieved that she didn't cause more damage than that. Especially where the gang members were concerned.

"That was a good one, Carms. Muggshot's not gonna like that, any." Sly said, smiling.

"N-No hay problema. (N-No problem.)" She said, mid giggles.

Then Sly had a humorous idea. "One more for the road?"

"Oh, si." Carmelita said with a smile, before they both climbed back up the cable.

Where, she pulled the wrecking ball out of the ground, before destroying three more letters of Muggshot's name, at the same time, leaving only one word on it.

Being, "Hot" as the word. Likely an implication of the heat that Carmelita was going to bring down on Muggshot once Sly was done with him.

After exiting the elevator, both thieves sneakily got to the other end of the lobby, where after climbing up the rope of the dollar chandelier, they ninja spire jumped their way to the other cent sign chandeliers, where they jumped on them to the doorway, that they guessed, led to another section of Mesa City, being the back ally section. They hoped that they could find the key there.

After some jogging through the halls, they found themselves in a room that lead out to the alley way section of Mesa, which was blocked by a glass wall. Fortunately for them, it was just common window glass that was in their way, so they just broke the glass down, putting them on a walkway that lead them to another walkway made of cement that lead them to more of the back ally.

Which, as they expected, wasn't looking too good. The buildings were obviously having their paint starting to chip off, exposing the bricks behind them, some of the buildings had vegetation on them, like leaf vines, the ladders up ahead was bent at bizarre angles like a crumpled up candy wrapper if it wasn't crumpled into a ball, and the neon signs, rather than try to lighten up the atmosphere, merely made it more darker, and moody, especially with Muggshot's face on some of the smaller illuminated signs on some of the buildings.

Which once again, showed how big in ego, and how small in intelligence, Muggshot happens to be, in their eyes. And they were indeed looking forward to putting him in his place, and saving Mesa City from his grip. So they kept on traversing the back alley, after Carmelita shot down another literal guard dog before it could try to notice them, and chomp on them like bones.

Noticing that they might ascend the building via some overhangs, one of which they could climb onto with the bizarrely bent ladder, Carmelita knew that this also looked like a good place to use her grapple gun attachment.

So she used it to grab onto the rock overhang. Before pulling herself, and Sly up to it, skipping some bouncing around on the other overhangs. Same thing for another stone overhang above them.

Which, was beside an A/C that they both used as a jumping pad to the other side of the neon sign. Even though it broke off, and fell downwards due to their weight. But they were able to hop on it to the other section of another building.

Where they climbed on another ladder that suffered some bending, onto a section of a fire escape, where they had to clobber another wrecking ball guard dog. Before climbing on another neon bone sign, then jumped off of it onto another fire escape, where the alarm was. Which they broke, before they kept going onwards by climbing on another ladder, where they saw some cloth overhangs that they can use to bounce to the bulldog statues.

But not before looking downwards, where they spotted some guard dog gunners keeping the path covered, forcing them to choose the ladder. "Whoa. Let's keep ourselves above them, Sly." Carmelita said, noticing them.

"Right." He said, agreeing with her after noticing them too. Before they both scanned their eyes on where they could go from there.

After some scanning on where they could bounce to, past the bulldog statues, they saw another ladder that was past the last statue. They could've bounced there, but Carmelita remembered her grappling gun attachment, which she proceeded to use to grapple her way to the ladder, with Sly in tow, where after some pulling up to it, they both climbed it to the top, where they were seeing a few searchlights shining on the area in front of them, and they were moving left and right, and the lights looked like they were big enough to catch them even if they tried to jump over them.

The only cover that they noticed they have on the floor they were on, was a large girder that should be able to cover them from the light, if they go prone. So they indeed did so in the middle part, when they notice that the light was going to be shining on them. Then jumping over the small walls that blocked their path once they know that the searchlights aren't threatening to shine on them.

Then they dropped down, to the second floor, where they had an easier time, since the signs that had wallpapers of dice on them, were like walls in that they covered them from the searchlights, without ever having the need to duck, or go prone. Much to their relief as they kept on hiding behind the signs whenever the searchlight is about to shine on them.

Then it got a little tricky again, as they were bouncing on cloth overhangs again, as a searchlight was on the bottom floor too. Which they were able to jump over. But now they needed to get the siren alarm to break, or it could swing back around to illuminate them on the very worst moment that they would be descending.

So, Carmelita was using her own Cane to smash it, since due to her bouncing with Sly on the overhangs, she would miss more often than she could hit if she tried to shoot at the siren.

Which they saw, was upside down, and under another neon sign. Likely being powered by the sign's electricity that flowed through it.

It took some effort, and timing, and it was a close call, when they both noticed that the searchlight was coming back towards their direction, but Carmelita was able to shatter the alarm, just before the light could end up shining on Sly, which would've set the alarm off. And had the searchlights end up zapping them with their fire.

With the siren broken, the thieves continued onwards with grins on their faces, starting to have fun with bouncing on the Overhangs. Especially with no searchlights currently up ahead. So, they were pretty clear so far, as they kept bouncing upwards to the next section.

Where after smashing past another sign with Muggshot's face on it, they were on a chimney, that was right next to a couple air conditioners that seemed to be the way down to the bottom where another rock walkway was under them. They felt that they could have a safe fall if they use those A/Cs to descend with, even if they could be making a bunch of noise from them all falling down.

Rather than risk the noises of the falling A/Cs crashing on the walkway alerting the guards, Carmelita proceeded to use her grappling gun attachment to descend downwards with both thieves holding onto each other during their descent. Both of them blushed at the contact of their arms holding each other. But neither of them minded that fact, due to their closeness.

Especially since they hugged each other before. All the way from when they became friends back in the Orphanage. Each of which, showed how fond they were of each other from that point onwards, after first hug they had in the Orphanage. And they hoped to give more of it to each other, by the time they defeat the Fiendish Five, and put a stop to their plans for the whole world.

Once they were now at the bottom, they were now running to the next building, where they were on the fire escape, looking in through the window glass to see into the room they were about to enter.

As they expected, the room wasn't any better looking. The floor's paint, and carpet was broken to where a section of the floor exposed the boards underneath, the pink paint on the brick walls were stripped away at some sections, and looked dusty while a few bricks were missing, a door was boarded up, and the furniture inside, was makeshift, with a tire torch inside, cheap mattresses used as couches as they were covered by cheap cloth, and a few crates, and bottles loitered the room too. And there was a hole in the ceiling, that one of the mattresses was under.

And that's not getting into the whole building that they were at, as it looked like it was only barely holding together, considering that it was missing a roof, let alone, an upper half of it that would possibly make it as tall as the other buildings in the Alleyway.

"Geez. If this is what this room looks like, I'd hate to see the other rooms in Mesa City at its current condition." Sly said, cringing.

"Agreed. It would be great to see them restored to better shape, once the citizens of this city returns, after we beat Muggshot." Carmelita said.

"Not to mention, how beautiful this city could be, after that, and once- WATCH OUT!" He said, pushing her aside, before diving aside himself.

Which would be before one of the guard dogs with the wrecking ball and chain broke the glass wall, that they were behind when he noticed them behind it. Fortunately, neither of them got hit.

And what is also fortunate, is that they didn't get any cuts from the broken glass.

After getting over her surprise, Carmelita quickly zapped the ball and chain guard dog before he could swing again at her, or at Sly. Now they were both catching their breaths.

"Are you okay, Ringtail?" Carmelita asked, looking at him in concern.

"I'm alright. He missed me. It was by this much, but he missed me nonetheless." He responded, using his fingers to emphasize how much of a length the guard missed him by. Which was by at least an inch.

It was relieving to know, for Carmelita. As she was thankful that he wasn't too injured to fight Muggshot with her, leaving it up to herself to do so. Which, she knows that she can fight him, and beat him, but there could be a chance that he'd get the best of her. And she'd probably be helpless against him, while Sly would be too hurt to save her, which would lead to their loss.

And it'd definitely lead to their deaths by 'cement bunny slippers' if Muggshot goes through with his threat. Which, would mean Bentley, and Murray would be alone without either of them by their side. And that is if Muggshot doesn't find them during their escape attempt.

"Let's keep on going, Carmelita. We should be close to that Key." Sly said.

"Right." She spoke, getting back to their current mission, as they entered the room, before they used the mattress as a trampoline to get through the hole in the ceiling. Before landing on the floor in their combat stances, expecting a fight.

It was a good thing they did, since they instantly saw that another 2x4 guard was trying to swing his weapon onto their heads, only for Sly to take him down with his cane, before they kept on going. Once again, showing how lousy, a 2x4 could be as a weapon, when going up against both of them.

Using another mattress as a trampoline, they were now at the top floor, which lacked the roof of the building, as they looked around, trying to find where the key could be.

Then they saw a pair of towers with neon red dice signs on them, one of which was less tall compared to the other one. And it had the podium with the key inside, on it. Much to their joy.

The only thing they had to contend on the way to it, was the thin girders that Sly, and Carmelita had to traverse, in order to get to the smaller tower where the Key was.

Which wasn't a major issue for Sly, nor Carmelita, as he used his skill in shimmying, to make his way down to the podium. where he was able to break the podium for the Key, that he put into his backpack with a flourish, as Carmelita was applauding him for the grab.

Now they had the last key. And their fight against Muggshot was going to begin as they left the Alleyways, not wanting to be there for another hour if they're going to look at the depressing atmosphere of that place.

Both thieves were in the foyer of the building, as Carmelita was in a private spot, to change her clothing. Which is after they ended up putting the Keys to use.

Murray was curious as to why Sly was waiting for Carmelita, before they battle Muggshot. "So Sly, why are you waiting for Carmelita, before your battle against Muggshot?" He asked through his Bino-cu-com.

"It's simple Murray. She's changing into a different set of clothes." Sly said.

"Oh. Is there a reason why?" Murray asked.

"Indeed. And I'll answer that." Bentley said. "Carmelita is changing clothes, so that she can disguise herself as a different fox. That way, once one of the members of the Fiendish Five ends up being beaten, and sent to jail, they won't be able to recognize that it's her, once they end up getting questioned. Which means, she won't have her connection to us, getting exposed to the Police, and Interpol, through their words."

"Sure, they might not believe the Five at first, but their evidence will start to pile up, and become more truthful, once more of the members of the Fiendish Five gets questioned, and tells the police of her affiliation with us, to where it becomes harder to keep her connection to us, a secret. And that, could lead to her exposing us to the police, or become forced to quit her job as Inspector, and live a new life with us as a fellow thief. Which, knowing her, is a life she ultimately wouldn't want. So, Carmelita is using disguises to hide her true identity from the rest of the Fiendish Five, when she fights them with me, so that they won't expose us, and her, to the cops." Sly explained the rest for Bentley. Hearing their conversation through the Bino-cu-com.

"Oh. Good plan. But what's the excuse with Raleigh?" Murray asked.

"Like I said, the Police won't believe the Five, at first, since Raleigh has been said to have lied before. And with conflicting accounts of who the 'associate' of Sly is, from the other members, it'd result in us making the rest of the Fiendish Five look like complete liars to each other, and the cops, and it would make it easier for Carmelita to hide her alliance with us from Interpol." Bentley explained.

That was an interesting plan, that answered Murray's question, as Sly smiled at how clever it was. All while he patiently waited for Carmelita to finish up her dressing. He just hopes that their fight won't end in Muggshot's favor once they begin their fight against him.

He was tempted to watch, but he was polite, and regardless of Carmelita not minding him gazing at her rear, or her chest, he felt that she would indeed mind if he were to see her in the buff. So he made sure to keep his eyes averted, and focused on Muggshot's head's now open mouth, that had an elevator in it, that lead directly to his penthouse.

Even though the fight wasn't going to be easy, he knew that it was going to be a fight that he was sure to enjoy winning, since it'd mean Mesa City will be freed from his control.

And since he would regain his, and his girlfriend's pages from him. Oh, how happy he'd be, to regain all of the pages for him, and for Carmelita. But for now, he kept his focus on Muggshot, and how to beat him.

Sometime soon, Mesa City will be free.

And done.

Here's another chapter of Sly Cooper and Carmelita Fox. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

And sorry that this chapter seemed to be a little short. I needed to get this out before the month ends. And this seemed like a good segue way to the Muggshot boss battle, and I needed to decide on what disguise to use for Carmelita for her fight with Muggshot. I think I have one in mind, but I can take some suggestions.

Finally, one more thing.

I hope that you enjoyed the chapter,

please give constructive criticism,

do not forget to read and review,

and once again, I do not own Sly Cooper, it is created, and owned by Sucker Punch, and Sony Entertainment. Please support the official releases.

Theodore The Poet signing off.