Here's a brief Q&A for this chapter.
Void Reader: It would take quite a long time, as Carmelita can also dye her fur too, so that she can look like a different Vixen entirely. And I know that there are other Vixens in Sly's world, so she would look like the other ones, and none of the Five could put it together that it's her that is Sly's companion.
As for the other question, I know that giving Carmelita a cane of her own could be unnecessary, but she could need such for close combat once in a situation where she needs to fight up close. And she's also going to learn Sly's ancestors' tricks too, and those tricks could involve their canes. So yes, she may need a cane of her own for that reason too.
Owyn Ross: Thank you for the praise. And I removed two keys since one of the missions was a 'Carmelita chases you' level. While the other made little sense narrative wise, (In my opinion.) as he couldn't have got into a race so soon, after he ran through a section of Mesa while protected by Carmelita. But he'll race some people in the future.
Also, a brief announcement.
I have seen that this fic has a page on TV Tropes! Which I have edited the mention of into the description. And I have to say, I am surprised, and happy to see that on there. I didn't think that one of my fics would be on there after all, and that the first one on there would be this. Now I hope that someday, the same could be said for The Four Brave Dragons: A Spyro Reignited Story, Crash Bandicoot: N sane and Retold, Ratchet and Clank and Angela: Up Your Arsenal, The Fashian Empire, Scarface The World is Ours, and Star Fox Adventures on Dinosaur Planet.
Also, thank you guys for the views, the reviews, the faves, and the follows. I appreciate it.
Finally, 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.
*Flashback*
Back in the Orphanage, young Sly Cooper was outside, hunched over against the wall, nursing the welts on his palms, not caring about the snow, and how cold it was outside as he looked quite serious.
The reason why he was like this, was due to the fact that it was December, which meant that it was Christmas time in just a few days, and it was a year, after he first met his friends, and Carmelita. And it was going to be the time of giving, especially since it was tradition for the Cookies to be given to them, and be passed along the fellow orphans of his, courtesy of some of the teacher's assistants buying cookies for the Orphanage that Sly, and his gang lived in. And it was the second Christmas that he had taken part of at the Orphanage.
However, Sly suddenly saw, that Mrs. Puffin merely took the cookies that was given to the Orphanage and hoarded them into her own cookie jar. Which meant that she was taking them for herself and was refusing to share them with the kids. Thus, she was stealing the cookies from the kids, and her assistants who just wanted to give good food to the children. Which was much to Sly's chagrin.
And Carmelita had to admit, even she disapproved of what Mrs. Puffin was doing. And that was regardless of being kinda like a teacher's pet to her, even though she too isn't fond of her when she does something underhanded. And this is no exception.
Sly protested against her taking the cookies for herself, much to the shock of the other orphans that was here longer than himself, but Mrs. Puffin still refused to share. And merely proclaimed that those are hers now.
And upon Sly continuing to protest against her taking the cookies, she merely punished him with some ear grabbing, before swatting the palms of his hands with her wooden pointer stick until it left welts on them. Teaching him that there are consequences to breaking the rules in her Orphanage.
To Sly though, rules were meant to be broken, especially this one, for what she's done with the cookies, consequences be damned. And he was now determined to do something about it.
Which was when he remembered the line that he descends from. And what he could be in the future. "I'm a Master Thief. And I need to act like such. Especially after what she has done with those cookies." He said to himself.
Which gave him an idea of what he can do about the cookies that Mrs. Puffin has taken. He just wonders how he can be able to steal back the cookies for the kids. And to see if he may need some help.
"Sly!" Carmelita's voice sounded, bringing him out of his thoughts.
Turning to her, he saw her now in front of him, looking at him in concern, having seen his punishment after all. Before she then hugged him into her chest.
"Lo siento, (I'm sorry,) Sly. I didn't mean for you to get hurt by Mrs. Puffin's hands. Are you okay?" She asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. My palms will heal. I'm just more worried about the cookies that, that loathsome double-crossing b-… that she was supposed to give to us. It's not your fault." Sly said, resisting the urge to call Mrs. Puffin a bad name, since it'd leave Carmelita aghast at that.
Carmelita was relieved, but she still felt bad for him. "I'm sorry still, I should've told her too, that the cookies were-"
"It's not your fault, Carmelita." He said, raising his voice a little. "Besides, you could've been suffering the punishment too. Or worse. So, I don't blame you in the slightest for just doing nothing. If anything, I'm relieved that it ain't you that has these." He said, gesturing to the welts on his palms.
Carmelita was touched that Sly was relieved about her not getting hurt like he had been. And that he seems to be selfless when he needs to be. Regardless of having done some sneaking around, among other troubles at the Orphanage.
"And besides, you saw what she did. She took those damn cookies, and we know it. So, we must do something about it." He spoke.
"But how? Could we rally the kids into protesting against her, along with the other assistants, until she is forced to concede?" Carmelita asked, hopefully.
Sly felt that it wasn't a bad plan. Especially when they bring reinforcements into it, especially lawyers. He even feels that he might as well use that, as his Plan B, once his first plan goes wrong.
"I've got a better idea. At least, until it goes wrong. Then I'll do yours." Sly said.
Carmelita was curious as to what he was planning. "What are you planning Sly?" She asked.
"Something that… I'd do if I was one of those spy characters from the movies we watched, and the books that we've read together." Sly said, feeling that Carmelita would believe that he plans on taking those cookies in the same way that a secret agent, as well as a spy, would do.
"You mean… you're going to do some spy stuff from the books, and from the movies we watched? How… interesante. (Intriguing.)" Carmelita said dreamily.
Speaking of books though, she ended up remembering something. "Say, speaking of books, I haven't forgotten the time I shown you mine, have you, Sly?"
Sly shook his head, nonverbally telling her that he hasn't forgotten that time either. He just wonders where she's going with that.
"Well, remember when I showed you my book? Are you now going to show me yours, once you're ready?" She asked.
Sly felt he should've saw this question coming as he was conflicted in showing her his book, or telling her no, and that it's for only those he trusts as his friends. And even though Carmelita is his friend, he feels that she could end up breaking off their friendship, if she was to learn about his thieving background.
"What can I do? There's totally a chance that she's going to dislike me at best, once she knows." Sly thought.
He decided to make a gamble and hope his friendship with Carmelita will hold.
"Okay. I'll show you. But like with your book, you must promise me that you'll tell no one. This is something that I can only entrust to only you. And possibly to Murray, and Bentley, later on." Sly said, getting up from the snow.
Carmelita nodded, walking with him towards the Orphanage. Or at least she tried to, only for Sly's glare to suddenly keep her in place. "I'm serious Carmelita. You must promise me, that you won't tell anybody about what I'm going to show you, no matter what it is that I'm about to show you. Not even Bentley, and Murray, until I'm ready." He said with emphasis on each word in the last sentence.
Carmelita was feeling a bit surprised, and nervous at the glare that she was receiving from Sly, as she quickly nodded.
Then he had her holding up her palm, while making a cross gesture. Then told her to solemnly swear that she is not to tell anybody else. As well as making her do the crossing her heart gesture too.
After that, and after he was assured that she's keeping herself silent, he now had her following him to his room, making sure to avoid any trouble that could be coming their way, especially from Mrs. Puffin.
They were able to make it to his room, before they then entered the room themselves, banking on Bentley, and Murray being away at the playground, or somewhere else in the orphanage, so that he can show only her the book.
It was only wishful thinking. "Sly?! Thank goodness you're okay, I hoped that Ms. Puffin's punishment wasn't driving you into running away." Bentley said, as he, and Murray was awake. And already sitting on their beds.
Sly inwardly facepalmed at the sight of them awake, before he entered the room. "Trust me. Regardless of how tempting it was, I still remember her lecture about what'll happen to me out there, if I run from this place, and I still agree with her on that part. As reluctant as I am." He said, having Carmelita enter too.
"So, I'm guessing that they're going to know too, since they're not asleep?" Carmelita said.
Sly gave her a single nod. "Apparently." He softly said.
"Know what? What do you plan to show us?" Bentley asked.
"I'm showing you guys, what I planned on showing her. But this remains between all of us." He then said seriously on the last part.
And after he had them also doing the heart crossing gesture for him, like what Carmelita did, he got to his bed, before pulling out his book. Being the Thievius Raccoonus. Which was like Carmelita's book, as she noticed. And what she also noticed, much to her shock, was what she understood what the first word of the book said.
Then he proceeded to tell all of them about his family's history, and that he descends from a long line of Master Thieves himself, that goes back to thousands of years ago. Before he then explains to them that this book is an ancient journal that was passed down his family line for many generations, which included the Raccoon's secrets to sneaking, and stealing. He then told them of his family's ancient code. Which is to only steal from the other criminals, and not from ordinary people.
While both Bentley, and Murray were surprised a bit at the sight, Carmelita was the most surprised. For a different reason at that. "What… you mean…? But…"
"Before you start asking accusatory questions, I want you to know this. My family, and I, are different from the other thieves." Sly said, knowing how upset Carmelita could be.
"But you're from a family of thieves!" She said in shock, and distress, surprising Bentley, and Murray. "You could've been raised as such, and yet you see yourselves as different?!"
"That's because we have honor, unlike the gang that stole the pages from this book." Sly said with emphasis, while making sure not to mention her book too. "Remember. Even some thieves like my family, and I, have a code to follow. Only steal from the other criminals. Especially the dishonorable, and eviler ones. Even we, have standards." He responded. Having told her of some thieves that happened to have his family line's type of honor, without mentioning his line, before.
That last part made sense to Carmelita, with both her, and Bentley feeling that such a code, made Sly's family like Robin Hood of England in a way. That is, if Robin stole from the rich, for himself, instead of giving it to the poor. Even though, knowing Sly, he'd be kind enough to give back something to the poor, that he'd steal from the bad rich folks.
But still. "But thieves! You descend from thieves nonetheless! Don't you know how much trouble they cause, and the stuff they take?!"
"You're right. And I'm sorry that I do. But trust me when I remind you, there are worse thieves out there, among the others, that deserves to be stolen from by my family. My line merely steals from them, and nobody else. In comparison to them, and especially to that gang, I'm sure you'd think of me, and my family as heroes." Sly responded.
Carmelita couldn't argue with that part, as much as she's angry, and hurt to admit it. Especially when thinking about the gang that killed their parents, and tore the pages from their books. So, she feels that if she were to be stuck with a thief for a partner, in the future, then she'd prefer that it'd be Sly, over the Owl that led the gang. "Fair… fair point." She spoke softly.
But still, she never forgot what she saw, as the manual for thieves like Sly's family. Which, had her feeling that the chances of her friend becoming her foe once she becomes a cop, was becoming more likely. Which, since she was fond of him, had her becoming more dismayed, and somber at that thought. Not to mention angry at what she learned.
Which caused her to walk out the door, and towards her room. "If you'll… excuse me. I… need to be in my room." She tearfully said.
"Carm-"
"Don't worry. I just want to be alone… for now. I won't tell anybody… what you told me and shown me. Just… let me be alone in my room for now." She said softly, trying not to cry, before leaving the room.
Sly was dismayed, as he was tempted to call out to her, but he knew that it'd be a bad idea to try to have her stay, if she wants to be alone. So, he let her go. He just hoped that she won't end up being upset, and angry at him for his past. Especially when she does go through with following in her family's footsteps, while he follows in his own. (He didn't choose to be a descendent to his line, after all. Not that he's complaining, he admits.)
"So, you're saying that this 'gang' took the pages from that book of yours?" Bentley said.
"Indeed. And to make it worse, they're the reason I'm here. They killed my parents." Sly said softly, yet angrily, much to Bentley, and Murray's surprise.
"D-Do y-you remember what they look like?" Murray asked, hoping not to make him mad with that question.
"There were five of them. And I remember that a Frog, a Bulldog, an Alligator, a Panda, and an Owl were members of the gang. And that the Owl lead them. That's all I remember." Sly said. "And what's worse, they killed Carmelita's parents as well."
Bentley and Murray were shocked at what they just heard. "Woah. I should tell her that I'm so sorry that happened." Murray said with Bentley also apologizing.
"It's okay. Just know that someday, I'm going after them all once I'm ready. And I am confident, that Carmelita is going to be with me along the way." Sly said with a smile. "I know it's going to be a difficult fight. But I won't be giving up, and I know, that neither will Carmelita, until we beat them all, and take back our pages, or if we both fail, and die."
Both Bentley, and Murray was surprised at the vow he made. All while for some reason, they were feeling tempted in joining him, and Carmelita, on his quest too, regardless of the dangers.
If they do go through with the joining, then they hoped that they'll survive the journey ahead.
For now though, Sly was starting to smile, feeling that he has a heist to do, and it involved those cookies that Ms. Puffin enjoyed hoarding. And he feels, that he has some friends to try it out with in Murray, and Bentley.
*Present time*
Sly waited in the foyer for a little longer, until Carmelita's voice sounded. "Okay, I'm done. How do I look?" She asked.
When Sly turned to see her, he was pleasantly surprised at the look she went for, in her fight against Muggshot.
It was a yellow spandex suit with blue lines, and a black mask that hugged her figure. Which looked like an inverted colored version of Sly's suit, only more feminine. And also showing off her curves, which had Sly blushing at that. And she also wore a raven wig that hid her cobalt hair inside, and dark blue lipstick, giving her a slight gothic female spy look.
"You look nice. Makes me glad that you're by my side as my ally, and my girlfriend." He responded.
Which had her blushing at that. "Gracias, chico. (Thank you, cutie.)" She said with a smile. "I'm glad to have you for my boyfriend too." She then kissed him on the lips.
Which he returned to her, before they proceeded into the doors that had the elevator inside that led directly to the penthouse of Muggshot's, where they could fight him, and take back the pages of their books.
"Ready Carms?" He asked.
"I'm ready indeed, Ringtail." She responded as they entered the elevator.
Where while inside, they braced themselves for what could be a tough fight against the strongest member of the Fiendish five. A part of them hoped that he would be somewhere else, leaving the pages up for easy pickings.
But they knew that he could still be around. And ready to protect what he views, as his property. So, they braced themselves, nonetheless.
Once the elevator was at the floor where the penthouse was, both thieves were jogging out of the doors, and into the room, where they were seeing how… pretty it is. It had a couple couches, windows that showed the city from the Penthouse, In fact, compared to the rest of Mesa City, it was the most beautiful room they have seen.
Which, considering that it was Muggshot's room, it's was supposed to be, considering who made this room that way.
And speaking of whom, he was sitting in his large chair that was against the wall of his room, as he was sitting there, like he was bracing himself for their arrival considering that he should be aware of them taking all of his keys to put them to use in making this moment possible. Yet he was surprised at what he was seeing.
"*Coughing* Wha?! My boys were yappin' about some pairs of scary mysterious people runnin' around crackin' skulls… and dis is it? You're both the monkey wrenches in my operation?" He asked, trying not to laugh. "Some scrawny rat wit' a stick! And an admittedly hot lookin' spy wit' a pair of… wait a second… I saw dat stick before!" He then said, focusing on Sly's cane.
"Maybe when my father knocked your block off with it." He said, remembering that at least his parents got in some good hits on the Fiendish Five, at least until their deaths.
"Your father?! Whoa! You're de Cooper?! Yuh know dat Thingus Raccamagoocus had a lot of nice pictures, but WAY too many woids, big and small." He said, now recognizing him with shock in his eyes. "And how'd ya hook up with your hot spy girlfriend, ya lucky dog? Ah, don't answer dat, it's not important."
"Good. Because I'm not telling you that." He spoke.
"Nor is he going to give me to you. I belong with him." Carmelita thought.
"Instead, if you're not having use out of those pages, then you don't mind handing them over?" He then asked.
Muggshot was affronted at that question. "Wha- What, are you kiddin?! Ya break into my place, steal my stuff, trash dis joint, threaten to kick me off my seat of power over Mesa City, and you're expecting me to just hand 'em over like some gentleman, just because I can't use 'em like you can?! I feel transgressed and violated! No way Jose, I refuse! Instead, I'mma give you something neither of you don't want instead! My fists, and a hail of lead! Let's rock!"
Then he got out of his seat, before walking onto the floor into the center of the room, by walking with his fists, showing off how strong he looked. Which a part of Carmelita had to admit, if she wasn't hooked up with Sly, and if Muggshot wasn't a criminal, and if he especially wasn't a Fiendish Five member that has her page, she might've been interested in having him as a boyfriend.
As it stands now though, she is Sly's girlfriend, Muggshot is a criminal, especially a Fiendish Five member, and he has some of her book's pages. And that is the reason why she will never be his girlfriend, no matter how much he begs, or barks.
Suddenly, a fence surrounded them all in the room, leaving none of them able to escape from the middle of the room as it looked like a boxing ring without the ropes. And with a bunch of crystals that suddenly filled the middle of the room too.
Which they hoped, would give them both cover against Muggshot's bullets that he was gonna shoot at them with, as their battle began with Muggshot trying to run around the crystals to get the line of sight needed to fire his guns. While both thieves ran around behind the crystals, in order to avoid his line of sight, and his bullets.
They knew their canes would be useless to use against him, due to his huge muscles. Which would require someone that is as strong as him to swing them as hard as they can in order to damage him. And so far, Murray is almost enough to fight against him, but he's back in the Van, and he could be too scared to face Muggshot face to face, so it was only up to them both to beat him. Which neither could in a straight up fist fight, let alone with their canes.
But they knew that there are other ways that they can defeat the physical member of the Fiendish Five. And they felt that they could do it with those crystals.
Especially when they realize that there were mirrors nearby. Giving them an idea as they were now jogging around the arena they were in, heading for the mirrors.
Carmelita, and Sly didn't find it too hard to know where he was, due to the stomping sounds he made with his knuckles that he walked on, until he saw them. That was when he quickly got on his feet, pulled out his guns, and shot at them with a couple bullets. Only for the crystals to block the bullets. While Carmelita returned fire with her shock pistol.
Which was where they also saw that it was a double-edged sword with those crystals, as they knew that he can also hide behind them too, as they block Carmelita's shots that she'd shoot at him in return. Which is what happened as he was able to run behind the crystals in order to dodge the shots with their help.
And even if the bolts would hit him, it'd probably take a lot of them to take him down due to his strength. And that would waste plenty of time in their fight. So she and Sly were finding another way that they hoped would end the fight quicker. Just in case the cops would end up coming to Mesa City once Muggshot is on his last legs.
All while Sly kept on using the crystals for cover alongside Carmelita as he turned the mirrors to reflect the sunlight into the crystals. While redirecting the sunlight into the chandeliers that hung on the ceiling of the first floor under the catwalk, knowing that they can be heavy enough to harm Muggshot. So, they were using the sunlight and crystals for that purpose, by redirecting the sunlight into the chandeliers to melt the chains, and cord that held them up.
Sure, Carmelita could've used her shock pistol, or shock rifle to knock them down, but she could either destroy the chandeliers into little pieces, or break some of the ceiling of the penthouse room they're in, which would risk it collapsing on them all. So, she kept her shots focused on Muggshot.
While Carmelita continually used her shots to force him to continue to take cover behind the other crystals in hopes of making him go under one of the chandeliers that they were trying to make fall on him.
Even though he also shot at her with his own guns, forcing her to duck behind the crystals on her side of the arena.
"Come here, babe, and fight like a man! You can't run or hide forever, so might as well face your fate with dignity, that is, unless you can make it worth my while!" Muggshot said flirtingly. As he was now headed towards her, intending to catch her.
Carmelita ignored the flirting on the last part, despite scowling at his attempts. "Don't bother, you meathead. I'm already taken." She said, speaking in an American accent. "And even if I wasn't, what makes you think I'm going to date a cheap two bit bastard like you?!"
"Feisty." Muggshot said, already admiring Carmelita's guts despite the insult. And feeling envy towards her boyfriend, which he felt, was Sly himself.
So, he was hoping to clobber Sly, and take Carmelita before he bails out of Mesa City, before his mooks could take him down once they lose their patience towards him. So he was now chasing her to try to catch her, and hopefully him in his clutches too.
Which, is what Carmelita was hoping for as she and Sly was able to lure him under one of the chandeliers as Sly was able to turn the sunlight to it after turning some more mirrors, redirecting the sunlight's focal point into the chains of the Chandelier to melt them with the concentrated light.
And soon, it was falling right as Carmelita dove aside to safety, leaving Muggshot under it.
"AW CRAP!" Muggshot said as he noticed it and was bracing himself for the impact of the chandelier with his duck and cover maneuver. But in his brief panic, he used his guns along with his arms as his way to brace himself for the impact and block the chandelier causing it to land on the guns, and practically break them as it dropped on him, causing him to fall to the ground for a moment. Though he was only a bit hurt, he was not hurt enough to not keep on running and fighting, but his guns were definitely broken from the chandelier dropping on him. Much to his chagrin.
"NO! My beautiful guns are destroyed!" He said in distress, and anger as he slammed his broken guns onto the floor. Then his face lit up. "Good thing I've got a spare upstairs." He said, quickly running to an elevator that sent him to the second floor before the thieves could stop him.
Thankfully, another elevator was nearby, which they used to get to the second floor with Muggshot. Whom already had his guns. And he was now back into searching for both thieves in his attempt to fight them on what they could describe as a catwalk of a second floor.
They saw that there were a bunch of mirrors on this floor as well, and that there is also a bunch of Chandeliers on this floor as well. Much to their relief as they were hoping to try again against Muggshot.
Who continued to shoot at them and chase them, intending to clobber them with his own fists, only to continue to miss them, and/or shoot the crystals, and be unable to catch them.
Which worked to their advantage, as they felt that they could use the heat of the sunlight to hurt him on this floor. So they were running around the catwalk with Muggshot continuing to chase them, and shoot at them. Which lead to some close calls as Carmelita felt the bullets nearly hitting her, but only slightly grazed her fur. Which told her that she can't be reckless.
Sly also got some grazing bullets on himself as well, but they were only small cuts that he can heal from as he and Carmelita continued to take cover behind the crystals before they get shot by Muggshot. All while Carmelita distracts him with her shots from her shock rifle while Sly continues to flip the mirrors into the crystals in order to see if the crystals could zap Muggshot.
So they kept on running around, with Carmelita distracting Muggshot, while Sly continues to redirect the sunlight from the mirrors into the crystals in the arena, where they ended up directing the sunlight into the huge crystal chandelier that was above them.
But Muggshot wasn't so easy to fool for some reason, as he was starting to know what Sly was trying to do, so he was heading towards him, while ignoring Carmelita. She tried to make him pay attention to her, even shooting at him, but he kept on taking cover behind the crystals on his way to Sly. Much to her horror at how Sly was going to get clobbered by Muggshot.
Which Sly also noticed as he saw that Muggshot was bearing down on him, as he ambushed him while on his way to the mirrors on the other end of the catwalk, intending to use his fists on him just to ensure that he won't dodge his bullets. Sly tried to sprint away, but Muggshot was able to hold him by his tail. Which was a tight grip that had Sly cringing at how tight his fingers around his tail were. Showing how strong he was. And now he had him in his grasp, about to clobber him into paste. And probably do the same to Carmelita after he was done with him.
Sly hoped that Carmelita had a plan already, or they were both doomed. While Carmelita was enraged at the impending beatdown, and was resisting the urge to wail on Muggshot with her bolts if they'd hit Sly too, so she had to think up a plan to make Muggshot let go of Sly so he can keep going to the other mirrors.
She quickly thought one up, even if she was blushing at that plan, and hoped that Sly won't mind if she does it, especially if it'll save him, as she was now whistling at him.
"Hey big boy." She said, catching his attention just seconds before he threw his punch at Sly. Especially at the tone of Carmelita's that caused him to turn towards her direction.
Where he saw her sexily walking towards him, putting sway to her hips, and slowly wagging her tail around. And was seductively smiling at him, even though she was inwardly cringing at what she was doing as she posed for him.
While Muggshot was surprised at that too alongside Sly. Who was wondering what her plan could be.
"I've just now noticed how much muscle you've been packing. You look built like a tank." She said flirtatiously.
"Oh, now you noticed. You like them?" He asked, flexing his muscles on his free arm. "I exorcised a lot. Mostly for revenge on my bullies in my youth."
Carmelita almost forgot about that part of his backstory when they learned more about him from the files that Sly took from her office in Paris. And that had her feeling sorry for him, not to mention also finding him relatable since she too had her share of bullies. She felt that if he wasn't part of the Fiendish Five, and if he, along with the rest of that gang, hasn't killed her, and Sly's parents, she would've had more sympathy for him. And maybe, they could be friends.
But as it stands, that excuse of why he became this, is not enough of an excuse, considering what he has done. And no muscles that he has, can convince Carmelita otherwise. Which is why she's faking her flirtatiousness towards him, so that he'll let Sly go.
Which is what she hoped for, as he stepped towards her, while inadvertently letting go of Sly's tail. "I'm surprised dat ya noticed. I thought ya said dat you were taken, and dat you would never date a two-bit bastard like me."
"Well, that was a lie on both parts." She lied. While nonverbally telling Sly that too.
All while Sly knew what she was doing, especially when she communicated to him to get the rest of the mirrors, and so, he was quickly dashing to the rest of the mirrors while Muggshot was distracted by her. All while Muggshot was close by her, under the crystal chandelier. Just as Sly was hoping as he was now knocking the mirrors into place as Muggshot continued to flex his muscles for a subtly unimpressed Carmelita. While also kissing the back of her palm, much to her chagrin. But she didn't show it.
"Say, once we're done here, I know a good beach in California that we can go to. It's a pretty place, and the waves are large for surfing on. And though it's hot, it's not as hot as you." He spoke, knowing that he can grab the money from Mesa's treasury and run there with Carmelita before his employees could turn against him and mutiny.
"Why thanks." Carmelita said sarcastically. "The description of that place does sound like it'd be 'hot' for a vacation destination." She then spoke, seeing Sly getting the rest of the mirrors aligned.
Now the sunlight was working its magic on the chandelier above Muggshot. As it was now about to zap him.
"Well, it is known as de City of Angels fur a reason, after all. And it seems like a good place for ya to go wit' me, as we take in de sights, have fun in de water, and even feel de heat if you're into it. Kinda like me, because ya set my soul on fire, and it's not a little spark, it's a flame…" He then said flirtatiously, not noticing that he is starting to burn due to the sunlight from the chandelier. "A big roarin' flame dat is burnin'. Burnin' Burnin'… hold on, SOMETHIN' REALLY IS BURNIN' HERE!" He then shouted after sniffing around, noticing that something smells like something burning.
Only to learn at this point, that it's himself.
"WAAHHHH-OW-WOW-WOW-WOW!" He yelled, and yelped around like a girl, as he was scrambling around on the catwalk trying to put out the fire. While Carmelita, and Sly were trying not to laugh their asses off at the display of Muggshot dancing around, trying to put out the fire with his aggressive patting, and using the 'stop, drop, and roll' maneuver to put it out.
Which, he was able to, but he was more hurt than last time from it as some of his body was charred, along with his clothing, kinda like a cartoon character that got shot in the face by a cartoon gun. Plus, his guns also got sabotaged as they looked slightly melted. Much to his chagrin.
"Ya tricked me! Dat's it, no more mister nice guy!" He said, running to another elevator that went up after slamming his guns to the floor of the catwalk before the thieves could stop him again.
Before they could use another elevator to chase him though, Carmelita was hugging Sly. "I'm sorry if I set of your jealousy. I had to do something to save you from that knuckle dragging mutt's clutches." She spoke somberly.
Sly merely smiled at her in response after a moment. "Don't worry, I knew what you were doing that time, so I'm not bothered. Thank you for the save by the way." He spoke casually, regardless of the lingering pain on his tail.
"De nada. (No problem.)" She spoke with a relieved smile as they rushed to the other elevator.
Which brought them to the top floor of the room that they were using another elevator on, where they were now on the lights that was near the main crystal chandelier. Where Muggshot was standing with a new set of guns. And he looked like he was on a safe zone, though he looked like he was on his last legs as well.
"Go ahead, and try to hop to where I am. I dare you!" Muggshot said, with his third pair of guns at the ready, like he was safe here.
It was too bad though, that Sly, and Carmelita quickly knew what to do, to take him down. And it involved what they could do with the chandelier that he stood on to make him fall.
So they both got onto the spires, and the lights that surrounded the chandelier as they used their spire jumps of Rioichi's to get to each of the sides where the mirrors are, so that they could use the sunlight on the ropes that held up the massive crystal chandelier that Muggshot stood on, so they hopped around the chandelier on the lights together, with Muggshot focusing on both of them.
"It's no use! Neither of you punks are gonna sneak up on me! I got eyes in the back of my head! Well, not literally, but you know what I mean!" Muggshot said, shooting at either of them that tries to approach him, or strafe around him.
They either dodged some of the bullets or took cover behind the mirrors that were now aimed at the ropes that held up the chandelier that they, and Muggshot were on, before they decided to use them to reflect the sunlight onto the ropes, causing the heat of the sunlight to be able to burn them into the point of snapping, before going to the next one.
As if Muggshot either knew their plan or was coincidentally trying to put it to a halt though, when he shot the mirrors, which were also bullet proof, he ends up turning the mirrors back around to their original place before Sly or Carmelita turned them around, forcing them to turn them again to continue to burn the ropes that held up the chandelier. And that wasted some time which made the battle last annoyingly longer than it needed to be.
But it wasn't too hard, since they continued to skillfully yet barely dodge the bullets and take cover behind the mirrors until he needs to aim again, or reload his guns, giving them the opportunity to keep on hopping around on the lights, and the spires, before turning the mirrors into place to burn the ropes.
"Stop hoppin' around like kangaroos and fight me! Both of ya can't keep on hoppin' forever! And I know that neither of you can hurt me like that either!" Muggshot said.
Sly though, was merely smirking alongside Carmelita, as they eventually got the mirror in place for the last of half of the rope. "Actually, we weren't planning to do that."
Muggshot got confused. "Whuh? Den what're ya planning on doin instead?" He said, only to then see that half of the ropes that held up the chandelier that he was on were snapped off, and the crystal chandelier he stood on was leaning in a slant since it was struggling to hold on to the ceiling, and to him, too. And now the next rope was about to snap, which is what he just realized is going to happen. "Oh. Oh crap." He said deadpan, then nervously on the last part.
Soon, the rope snapped, and the chandelier tipped, and fell over to one side to dangle by only the ropes on one side, which were the ropes that Sly, and Carmelita were hanging onto. And initially, so was Muggshot when he was barely able to grab onto the edge of the middle of the chandelier that he stood on. And soon, he tried to climb up to them, trying to strangle them both for that tactic that they just used. But they weren't worried as they were confident that the bulldog was going to fall.
Sure enough, despite his determination, he indeed fell downwards.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
He yelled on the way down towards the floor, falling through the catwalk due to his weight, while leaving his indent on the catwalk that took the shape of him falling, before he landed on the first floor with a loud thud that shook the whole room.
Even though the thieves felt the vibrations of the room, they were not falling down with Muggshot, as they were able to descend downwards with their climbing skills from the rope, down to the catwalk, where they took the elevator down to the first floor, where they saw Muggshot on the floor, looking quite dazed, and hurt.
He was still alive though, likely due to being strong enough to survive a fall from a high place, like that. But he was unable to stand up to continue the fight. And he lost his guns in the fall, leaving him defenseless as he merely laid there, unable to get up.
Muggshot was defeated.
Sly and Carmelita were relieved, and happy about their victory, as Muggshot was on his back, looking dazed, while also showing disbelief in his eyes.
"No! NO! Dis is impossible! A pair of pipsqueaks like yuh both, beatin' up a big strong bruisuh like me?! It ain't right!" He spoke.
"Well, do you know what else isn't right? Driving out the citizens of Mesa, to open up a casino business." Carmelita said to him in disdain. "They'll now be coming back, now that you're no longer in power here."
"Plus, now that you're beaten, I'm taking back my pages, now." Sly said confidently. "This is for my parents, by the way." He then said in disdain, remembering seeing Muggshot as the one that overpowered both his parents, before Clockwerk dealt the finishing blow on them.
Muggshot merely returned his own disdain towards him, and Carmelita. "Oh, go ahead and take dem den, as I ain't gettin' use outta dem. But know dis. Ya want de rest of dat stupid picture book? Den you're both gonna have to go down to Haiti, and cross paths with Mz. Ruby. And do believe me, neither of you… don't wanna be you." He said before he was now unconscious.
That left both Sly, and Carmelita hugging each other in delight at their victory, before they were now jogging their way to Muggshot's safe.
"Muggshot's section of the Thievius Raccoonus contained a section on my Gunslinging ancestor, Tennessee Kid Cooper. His specialty was the Rail Walk, and the Rail Slide. Moves perfected throughout his lifetime of theft back in the old west."
"Plus, I got the other pages of my book from the same safe. And so did Carmelita. Much to our joy. We were getting closer to recompleting the Thievius Raccoonus, and the Guardius Vulpinus. We just had three more members of the Fiendish Five to defeat before fully completing our journey."
"As for the rest of the pages that we took from Muggshot, I have hopes that we can put the skills within them to use against the rest of the Fiendish Five in the near future."
"But anyways, let's get back to the present."
"Getting out of town proved to be a little trickier than getting in, once the police arrived. Fortunately, I was able to get past them, and back to the Van without much trouble. And Carmelita was able to get out of her disguise, and back to her normal clothing before she could get caught with her pants down. And, having just 'missed' us, she did the next best thing. And dragged that canine steroid case off to jail."
Sly narrated, as on the next newspaper he read, (Still known as "Sucker Punch" Daily.) he saw a picture of an unconscious Muggshot on the ground, cuffed behind his back with a pair of cops confiscating his weapons, with a detective's silhouette in the background, and Carmelita with one foot on the back of his head, looking triumphant, as it said "Hot Stuff with a Badge, Collars Canine Criminal." above the picture, while under the sentence, it said "It's the Big House for the Big Boss of Mesa City." and the sentence that was under the picture said "Inspector Fox too late to catch mysterious thief."
Again, Sly had to agree with the first part of the first sentence, in reference to Carmelita.
"That action spelled the end of Muggshot's gambling empire in the making. (If it was gonna be made, that is. Considering his unpragmatic methods.) And Mesa City citizens were soon returning home, once the news broke out."
"While me, Carmelita and the boys… well, we enjoyed the rest of our stay in America. Among other things to do in our celebration of Muggshot's defeat."
He then narrated, as he sneakily ran away with a pair of stars from the Walk of Fame sidewalk. One of which, was a star dedicated to a guy who was an actor. But since the actor was also known for being part of a bad gang, Sly felt that he counts as a criminal to steal from. And the Walk of Fame star dedicated to him, was too juicy a target to not go for. All while Bentley and Murray stood around, with the former looking into a city map, while the latter held an ice cream in his hand, while Carmelita was in one of the stores, going shopping for clothes.
"And then returned to Paris, France. Ready for our next heist."
And done.
Here's another chapter for you readers. And as I've mentioned in the beginning of this chapter after the Q and A, this fanfic has a page on TV Tropes. And I'm pleased to see that on there.
Though I saw that one of the tropes mentioned that 'According to [me], Carmelita's secret of working with the Cooper Gang as its secret member and Sly's lover is in no danger from the Fiendish Five due to personal Pride.' I did say that, but since I'm now deciding to have Carmelita use disguises when she and Sly fights the Fiendish Five members, I feel that the trope is outdated. So, if any of you knows of one of the editors for that site, (Or you're one of the editors.) can you please tell him to edit that trope out, and re-edit it into Flip-Flop of God and put that trope into the trivia section? I'd appreciate it.
Changing the subject, Sly and Carmelita have gotten back more pages from two of the members of the Fiendish Five after beating them. Which means, two down, three to go. And Sly and Carmelita is about to go up against Mz. Ruby as the next foe to take on. As well as a surprise for them in the preceding chapter prior to their journey to Haiti.
What is that surprise you may ask? It'll be said in the next chapter. So stay tuned.
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 the Sly Cooper series. It is owned by Sucker Punch, and Sony Entertainment. Please Support the Official releases.
Theodore the poet signing off.