It has been a long time coming...but now, the grand finale is here!

*Sly POV*

We made it back home with our heads hung down. We had managed to save Cooper History, but at the cost of my brother, now drifting through space-time to who knows where. The only solace was that he took Le Paradox with him.

As we settled down, Bentley decided to dig up some dirt on Le Paradox and why he did what he did. Turns out, he was from a family of thieves himself, and then we made a major discovery.

I knew that my dad's heist of the World's Largest Diamond had made him a legendary thief, but what I never knew was that Le Paradox's father had planned to steal it first, and frame MY dad for the crime! Only, he was a little too slow and got himself caught instead.

With his father gone, Le Paradox had no one to teach him the family business, and after a string of failed jobs, he wound up in prison too. It was here ironically that he finally got his criminal education. After his release, Le Paradox maintained the appearance of a law-abiding citizen. In reality, he used his prison contacts to form his own syndicate and began masterminding heists worldwide.

These days, he traveled the globe as a billionaire art collector while his real business was the trafficking of priceless stolen treasures. Clearly, he blamed the Coopers for his family's past misfortunes, and his plan was to wipe us out completely.

But now, he had failed, thanks to the unity of Cooper and Shigura but I couldn't help but wonder...what was the cost in the end?

Le Paradox's blimp sailed through the void of space-time, no destination in sight as its sole passengers, Ben and Le Paradox were both now face-to-face with each other.

"It seems we are here...a grand drop for the final battle. But alas, it doesn't matter who wins. We're doomed nonetheless." Le Paradox lamented as Ben narrowed his eyes and took out his Karambit Knife.

"Don't count on it Le Paradox!"

"Honestly, the nerve of you! Ruining my beloved Time Tunnel! It was something I managed to plunder off your little friend Penelope when she wasn't looking!"

"So that's how you got your own time machine...by being a thief and a bad one at that."

"Ah, how ironic of you to say that, considering you are a thief yourself!"

"Except I don't use my friends the way you used yours. All of them were thrown out like yesterday's trash when you had no more use for them!" Ben snapped. "And why go after my brother? Our family?!"

"You destroyed my father and you almost got me!" Le Paradox bit back with venom. "But not quite. And when I rebuilt myself, I swore I would erase the Cooper name from history completely! And so today, after I destroy you, I will find a way to begin my plans anew!

"Not if I can help it!" Ben shouted as he tackled Le Paradox, the blimp slowly coming apart around them as the Skunk Beastkin took out a rapier and kicked Ben off him, the Shigura Thief readying his knife as the two locked blades.

"Come, boy! I shall teach you to fight like a gentleman!"

"Sorry, I already got the charming gentleman thief persona down pat!" Ben taunted. "So before we finish this, let me get one thing straight! You came after the Coopers because of what happened to your father?!

"No, you imbecile! I came after the Coopers to prove that Le Paradox is the greatest thief who has ever lived! Is there any doubt? Ask yourself this: If the Coopers were truly the greatest thieves in history, and I have stolen their most valued possessions, then what does that make me?" Le Paradox said smugly.

Ben frowned. "Um, an idiot! You had it made! You could have been the biggest thief of all time, but you had to target Sly's ancestors and blow your own cover! You exposed your operation because of your ego! No Cooper would've done that! And for the record, can you really say you stole the canes? Seems like your "friends" did all the real work!"

Le Paradox scowled as he readied his rapier. "Enjoy your words, boy...for they will be your last!"

Le Paradox lunged and Ben blocked his thrust with his knife. The two were in a stalemate before the Skunk Beastkin pushed him down, aiming to overpower him.

"Any last words before I cut that tongue of yours?!"

"Yeah, you know what helps end long-drawn-out sword fights?"

Le Paradox was confused by Ben's words before he felt something under his chin. His eyes widened in shock and realization but he had no time to dodge. A resounding BANG echoed through the blimp...and then Le Paradox's body slumped over, a hole in his head with blood spilling out.

"The answer: A gun."

Ben then quickly made his way to the controls and typed some coordinates, thanking his lucky stars that the Time Tunnel was still somewhat operational. He then turned to Le Paradox as he uploaded the Time Tunnel schematics to his bionic arm and pressed his thumb down as if activating a detonator, warping away as the blimp and Le Paradox's remains were assimilated into the void of space-time.

The Cooper Gang were looking over the waters of Paris, all of them contemplating the loss of Ben. However, a distortion of space-time in the sky opened up before an object flew out of it. The object let out a loud scream before crashing into the waters.

Taking a canal out to the impact site, Carmelita gasped when she saw it was Ben, his outfit in tatters but alive. Fishing him out, she brought him to shore as the rest of the gang came in, all of them smiling brightly as Ben coughed, slowly opening his eyes to see his family there.

"Unca!" Brie cheered as Penelope laughed and placed her daughter on top of Ben, the infant slapping his face and stretching his mouth up into a goofy smile as he chuckled.

"Did you guys miss me?"

"Heck yeah, we did! We thought you were a goner!" Murray said, helping Ben to his feet before giving him a big hug.

"What happened to Le Paradox? And the blimp?" Bentley asked.

"Gone, neither will be much of a problem anymore."

"Ben..."

Turning around, Ben was slapped across the face by his irate wife, tears in her eyes as he winced.

"I deserved that."

*SLAP*

"I deserved that."

Neyla pulled her leg back and realizing what her intentions were, Ben panicked as he covered his crotch.

"Not there! Please!"

Neyla scoffed before pressing her lips to her husband's own, making him smile as he wrapped his arms around her while her tail wrapped around both of them. Sly smiled as Ben broke the kiss with his wife to turn to his brother.

"I'm glad to have you back, brother."

"Glad to BE back, brother."

Reunited, the Cooper Gang decided to return home and finally retire for the evening, all of them spent from their latest adventure.

"So, what do you suppose will happen next?" Jing King asked.

"No idea, but with you Coopers...it can only be another big adventure," Carmelita smirked. "And don't worry, dear...I'll give you a ten-second headstart."

"You spoil me, my dear."

Everyone laughed, the sun setting in the distance to close out the curtain on this tale.

It's over, it's finally over! I can't believe it! My first officially completed story! I don't care if it's crap! I did it!

Huge Shout-Out to Ezio1-3, jumbochamploonrules, and Mrotrax for being good friends and supporting me throughout this story! You guys are all the best!

I hope to see you all in the next adventure and let's all pray to god a Sly 5 comes at some point!