Thieves in Time part 2

Carmelita knew she had to do something. She had to get the time machine back from Cooper and change the time-stream back to what is was before. But as soon as she arrived at the pyramids she was jumped and taken captive. The next thing she knew she was placed before not one but three raccoons standing before her, but Sly wore his typical clothing making him sit out like a sore thumb.

"There's no need for that." Smirked Sly as he pointed to the cloth wrapped around Carmelita's mouth.

"Cooper!" yelled Carmelita the second the gag came off. Sly immediately reconsidered his idea and slapped his hand over her mouth.

"Where are your manners my dear?" He turned over and pointed to the other raccoons present." Say hello to my relatives Slytunkhamen Cooper 1 creator of the Thieves Raccoonus, and his son Slytunkhamen Cooper the second creator of the Cooper Clan vault." He turned back to Carmelita with a smile releasing his hand from her mouth.

"What have you done now Cooper?" she asked. She wasn't yelling so that made Sly seem more comfortable.

"Why probably my greatest heist ever my dear. I left you here in Egypt while I traveled back several hundreds of years in time to steal this." He jumped across the room and tapped his cane against the Master Emerald." I'll admit I don't understand it's purpose or power. If Bentley were here he could figure it out for me. But I do know one thing." He turned up to Carmelita and held up his index finger." Your boyfriend's people worship the thing like it's a God. So I simply brought it here to my relatives, one thing led to another and then we had this." He pointed outside where the Echidnas continued to work as slaves in building the pyramids.

Carmelita still had trouble taking all of it in. Everything was now crazier that it was before. Sly hadn't just written Knuckles out of history, he'd re-written nearly 5,000 years of history.

"You're crazy." Was all she managed to say. Sly walked across the room and bent down in front of her, taking her chin in his hand and pushing her head up to look at him.

"Crazy about you." He said softly, and he meant it. Sly closed his eyes and leaned in towards her, perching his lips. But the second he got close enough Carmelita lunged her head forward and head-butted Sly onto his back.

Sly was helped to his feet by Slytunkhamen the second as he held his throbbing head.

"Get her out of here!" Sly said waving his hand." Lock here in a room!" And as ordered Carmelita was taken away by the guards, though the room she found herself in was far from any prison cell. It seemed like she was in a lavish guest room fit with any and all necessities someone could ask for. But Carmelita wasn't on vacation. She was a prisoner in the past and had no idea of how to change it. For the first time in her life she didn't know what to do. But that's when fate intervened.

Several hours had past and the sun had set bringing the night. Carmelita was lying in bed trying to make any sense of her current situation when something happened. She suddenly heard the pounding of something against the door.

She sat up in bed and saw the door shaking back and forth. Not only that but she could hear grunting on the other side. Slowly Carmelita stood up and walked over to the door. The suddenly to her surprise it swung open and that ball of light floated into the room. It turned in her direction and then flew out the door.

Carmelita poked her head outside to see the two guards lying on the floor unconscious. Somehow that ball of light had managed to take them both out and open the door.

Looking ahead Carmelita saw the ball of light making it's way down the hall. She quickly followed after it, the only sound was her feet echoing against the ground. She followed the ball of light until it flew up and towards the ceiling, looking forward she saw herself once again in the throne room but she wasn't alone. Only ten feet ahead of her was Sly Cooper with his back to her.

Sly slowly turned around to see her standing there, but he didn't look to surprised by it.

"I thought you'd have broken out sooner." He commented. He took a small step forward, now standing next to the Master Emerald. Carmelita had to think up something to do and she had to do it quick. She could attack Sly but that would bring the whole place down on her. No for this she'd have to be smart. Looking at Sly's neck she saw he still had the time machine.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" she asked.

"Huh?" asked Sly confused.

"The Emerald." She took a step closer and bobbed her head at the large green gem Sly stood next to.

"Oh yes." He said as he lifted his hand up and began rubbing it. He turned his head back to see Carmelita walking closer to him. She walked up until she stood right before him, then lifted her hand and placed it on top of his. Sly was taken back a moment and it showed on his face. This was Carmelita's chance.

"Did you mean what you said?" she asked. Sly raised his brow at her confused." About how you're crazy for me?"

"I did all this for you." He took her hand in his and brought it to his chest." Does that mean anything to you?" Carmelita took a step closer to him and put her hand on the back of his head. He titled his head slightly as she softly brought his head down and closer to her. Sly put his hands around her as the two locked lips.

It was just as Sly had always wanted, just him and Carmelita. But as soon as his dream was realized it was snatched away from him. Carmelita reached forward and yanked the time machine from off his neck.

"What?!" Sly yelled confused. Carmelita had already jumped away from him and clicked on the machine. Sly grimaced with anger." WHY YOU!" He jumped forward and took her to the ground. In their struggle the time machine was pushed again.

Carmelita was so distracted with fighting off Sly she didn't notice the ball of light had returned. It flew over and between the two, landing right on the time machine. There was a blinding light that caused both Sly and Carmelita to look away, and when they looked up again all they saw was white.

"What the heck?" said Carmelita as she got to her feet. She and Sly began looking around but there was nothing. No sound, no other living thing, nothing at all.

"Greetings." Called a soft siren voice. Carmelita and Sly turned around to see a pink echidna in white robes floating in the air above them." And welcome to my realm."

"Who are-" began Carmelita, but she was cut off as the ball of light flew over her head and raced towards the pink echidna.

"Hello my little friend." She said as she held out her hand to the ball of light." You've done well , you've brought them to me. Now for your reward." Carmelita and Sly watched as the pink echidna touched the ball of light with her hand and after a quick blast of some magical energy the light began to take shape. And Carmelita was shocked by who it turned into.

It grew arms, legs, red fur, two big boulder like hands. It turned into Knuckles.

"KNUCKLES!" Carmelita yelled as she ran towards him. Knuckles hardly had his feet on the ground for more than a second before Carmelita swooped him up in her arms.

"AH! What the fu-" he groaned but he was cut off as Carmelita hugged him tighter and showered him with kisses.

"Knuckles! I'm so happy your alive!"

"Ah young love." Smiled the pink echidna as she watched the two lovers reunited.

"Put me down, Put me down!" Knuckles roared as Carmelita held him. And Carmelita did just that, but still with a smile on her face. Knuckles was happy to see her too but looking past her and seeing the pink echidna his face was filled with surprised worry.

"Knuckles? What is it?" asked Carmelita. But Knuckles did not answer and Carmelita followed his gaze to the pink echidna." Who is that?"

"Aurora." Knuckles spoke in a voice softer than a whisper. He remembered his face and likeness from stories his father had told him." She's the mother of all things, worshiped by my people as a God." Ancients say it was Aurora who breathed compassion and love to all her children.

"A God?" Carmelita repeated.

"I am who you say I am, Guardian." Aurora told.

"Your pardons great Aurora." Knuckles said with a bow of his head." But why have you brought us here."

"There was been great distress done to the timeline." Aurora told.

"There's your culprit!" Carmelita turned and pointed to Sly who still stood some distance away. Knuckles turned and faced him. And the second he laid eyes on him he was filled with a rage he never knew before.

"COOPER!" He roared. Knuckles jumped forward and prepared to fight but Aurora stopped him with a wave of her hand, causing Knuckles to stand still in his place.

"Patience Guardian." She said." We'll see that these events are changes." With a wave of her hand Knuckles was allowed to stand by himself." Had my husband been here he would have you and your enemy fight a duel to the death before fixing this himself. I myself see no reason for such gruesome tactics however you two much finish what you have started." Knuckles turned and eyed down Sly Cooper once again." However you are not the only ones who have been affected by the time change." Aurora waved her left hand and a group of echidnas appeared behind Knuckles. But they were no ordinary Echidnas they were Knuckles own kin. Not the old, frail grandfathers he'd remembered but strong and in the prime of their youth. All of them dating back to the very first Guardian Edmond.

Aurora waved her right hand and Sly Cooper was joined by his family of the past. He was happiest of all when he recognized one he thought he'd never see again.

"Dad?" Sly said almost in disbelief.

"Yes Sly, it is I your father." Sly watched as he father walked up and stood before him." My look at you son, you look just like your old man." And Sly couldn't help himself. He lunged forward, wrapped his arms around his dad and hugged him some tears of joy running down his face.

Knuckles scanned his crowd looking for the same person. And he found him, his own father. Carmelita watched as the two made eye contact and the two seemed to stand still.

Locke stomped up and stood before Knuckles.

"Who are you?" He asked in a gruff voice. Evidently he came from a timeline when Knuckles wasn't born yet or either wasn't full grown."I know all the Guardians here. They are my father and his father before him and so-on, but none of us here know you." Locked pointed his finger in Knuckles' chest. The older guardians crowded behing Locke, staring down their unknwon decsedant.

"My name is Knuckles." He replied in a soft and timid voice." I-I'm your son."

"Son?" Locke repeated. Knuckles began to shake as he nodded his head up and down. Carmelita watched the whole thing, she'd never seen Knuckles act this way. But to Knuckles surprise his father smiled." Why of course you are! Just looking at you I could tell, the resemblance is unmistakable." Locke let out a hearty laugh as he reached down and hugged his son, hugged him tight. Knuckles himself was frozen the whole time. The sensation was new to him. Locke put one arm around Knuckles and led him away." Father, Grandfathers!" He called to the crowd." This is my son Knuckles!" And Knuckles was introduced to his grandfather Sabre and other relations like never before. It was now that Locke turned and noticed Carmelita. Shock hit his face as he remembered her from saving Knuckles." You?" he said confused.

Carmelita smiled back sheepishly.

"Um Dad." Said Knuckles pushing away from his family and walking to Carmelita's side." This is um..this is my girlfriend Carmelita." Locke and all the echidnas leaned in to look at the two.

"Hola." Carmelita said.

"HaHa!" laughed Sabre." Well done lad!"

"That's my boy!" said Locke proudly.

"Guardians" said a soft voice that roared like thunder. Everyone looked up to see the Echidna God Aurora hovering over them. The Echidnas quickly fell to their knees." Rise my children and listen." They did as they were told." The young guardian Knuckles." She pointed to him." Has been across time and space on a mission of grave importance. That mission has brought all of you here now. Over there." She pointed to the Cooper Clan." Is a family of criminals who have helped the time stream stray off it's true path. It is your duty to bring them to justice." And the Echidnas fired up by their God and their love of duty rallied themselves behind Knuckles.

"What's going on there son?" Sly's father asked to him. Sly turned and saw the Echidnas rallying themselves behind his most hated enemy.

"Some guy I've been trying to get rid of."

"A cop?"

"You could say that."

"We Cooper's don't like Cops. What's say we show them just how good we are." Sly watched as his father held up his cane, the very same cane Sly himself had.

Carmelita watched as the two sides prepared for battle. Suddenly she found herself being lifted into the air.

"Come my dear." Said Aurora as she did so." Our place is to watch this battle."

"If it's all the same to you miss." Carmelita said." I'd rather be down there."

"You wish to fight?"

"Yes." Carmelita turned and looked down at Knuckles." After all I've been through I can't back down now." Aurora nodded.

"If that is your decision." And with a wave of her hand Carmelita was lifted down to the ground next to Knuckles.

"Come to join the show?" He snickered.

"Someone has to watch your back." She said pulling out her shock pistol. Now the lines had been drawn with Coopers on one side and the Knuckles tribe on the other. Then with a charge of the Coopers and the war-cry of the echidnas they charged into battle.

Both sides fought with all their strength and skill, but it was very one-sided. While the Coopers were much more nimble than the Echidnas, the massive strength of the Echidnas overtook anything the Coopers tossed their way. The only Coopers who stood a chance was Bob Caveman Cooper and Slaigh Cooper and even those two were easily outmatched.

And within a matter of minutes the Cooper Clan was defeated and tied up. Knuckles himself walked up to Sly and ripped the time machine from his neck and crushed it in his hands.

"Well done my children." Aurora said as she appeared hovering in the sky." Now you must all return to your own times." With a wave of her hand countless portals appeared all around them. Then one by one, one of Knuckles fore-fathers took one of Sly Cooper's ancestors back to their appropriate time period before they themselves returned home.

Sly watched as Locke, Knuckles father took his own father away.

"Dad! No!" Sly yelled. But before Locke returned back home he stopped before his son.

"Good job out there today lad." He said with a hand on his son's shoulder. Knuckles once again froze up.

"T-Thank you, Dad."

"I can tell your mother and I raised you right." He turned to Carmelita. "And I can see your doing alright for yourself too." Knuckles looked up to see his father smile a real genuine smile at him." You're a good boy Knuckles and I'm very proud to call you my son." Knuckles closed his eyes and hung his head.

"Thanks Dad." He said." No matter what happens thanks." Locke smiled one last smile to his son before disappearing into the portal. After he went through and the portal closed behind him Knuckles breathed a deep sigh.

"C'mon Cooper." Said Carmelita pulling Sly to his feet. She walked over and stood before Knuckles." Knuckles are you ready?" Knuckles opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"Let's go home." He said. Then he led the way as Carmelita brought the bound Cooper behind them. The entered the portal and reappeared on Angel Island with the Master Emerald in it's natural place.

"Everything seems to be in order." Carmelita commented. Knuckles nodded his agreement. But while they did that Sly was already working on making himself free. With some simple handiwork he was free. He then kicked out his legs sending both Knuckles and Carmelita to the ground.

"This isn't over!" he announced.

"Why you!" grunted Knuckles as he lunged at Sly only to eat a mouthful of dirt as Sly jumped over him. Knuckles looked up and into the air to see Sly flying off into the sky above him.

"I'll be back Knuckles the Echidna, you'll see!" He called out. Knuckles prepared to go after him but was stopped by Carmelita.

"What are you doing?!"

"Let him go. I've had enough excitement for one night." Knuckles straightened himself out somewhat agreeing with her, although his face was still distorted with anger. But Carmelita stopped him for a reason, she had something else on her mind.

"So that was your father?" she asked. Knuckles closed his eyes and breathed another deep breath.

"Yes." He replied in a dry voice.

"Could you take me to meet him?" Knuckles hung his head a moment longer, biting at his lip. Then he turned and faced her.

"You'd like to meet him? Hm?" His face was strained and his eyes looked watery.

"Yes." Said Carmelita nodding her head." I want to know where you came from." Knuckles knew what that meant, it meant she wanted to know what happened between him and his father.

"Follow me." He said. He turned and led the way. But to Carmelita's strange surprise they didn't have to walk far, just to the other side of Angel Island. Though it was a part of the island she'd never been to. There were black trees and long sharp branches sticking out. She felt as if the place was haunted but Knuckles acted as if he could walk it blind-folded.

He walked until they came to some sort of hilltop.

"Here." Knuckles pointed to the ground." Is my father." Carmelita looked to the ground where all she saw a stone-jolting from the ground.

"AH!" Carmelita gasped, nearly falling to the ground.

Knuckles turned his back from her and looked around the hilltop. His father wasn't the only one there, but his grandfather and great, great-grandfather and so on. Every Guardian of the Master Emerald since the very beginning. Knuckles was part of their elite brotherhood, chosen by the Gods to Guard the Master Emerald with their lives. In the end his own fate would be end and he'd lie in the ground like his father.

Locke was totally devoted to his duty and prepared his son to follow in his footsteps. But it was that devotion that led to the crumbling of his marriage and a wedge in his relationship with his son. He was cold, calculating a man who always though one step ahead. He helped to give his son powers that no Echidna ever had before. But never once sat down with his son and got to know him. And right now that's what Knuckles wanted more than anything. Knuckles had always believed the fault was in himself, thinking he wasn't worthy of a father's love. And years after his death he still felt some fault because of that. But now after meeting his father, 'truly' meeting him just made him realize all the wasted years, years they could have spent together.