"Alright, Murray, go ahead and shut down those spotlights." Bentley informed. "It's time to get this operation underway!"
"I hope that General guy wasn't lying about those codes or else this is gonna get ugly." The hippo said to himself as he typed in the codes, the spotlights shutting off. "Alright! Spotlights are down, Bentley! I'm gonna go see if I can't find any extra firepower."
"Attention all mercenaries, the Contessa's defenses are down, seize this opportunity for aggressive military action by pressing an attack on the castle. Charge! For victory, for glory!" Bentley said, disguised as Neyla's voice. "That should do it."
"Now that you're done being a war monger, how about we paraglider over to that blimp?" Sly suggested, though it had a snarky tone to it.
"Just make sure to grab the rope hanging off of it; I don't wanna drown."
Rai rolled her eyes with a small smirk. "Am I really the only one who can swim?"
"The only one who spent the time and effort learning." Sly replied as Bentley hopped on his back before the two leaped, using their paragliders to head for the blimp, managing to snag the rope as they climbed up to the deck, until a few wolves decided to crash the party. "Hang on, Bentley, we've got company."
"How about you sit back and let me show you how it's done, Ringtail." Rai said as she stepped forward.
"If you insist." He gestured.
Rai used her cane to hook a wolf around the neck, throwing him off the blimp before whipping it around to whack another in the face. While stunned, the fox hit him in the back of the head, knocking the wolf out cold. Suddenly though, another wolf swung its spiked malice, but Rai quickly got down before swinging her foot to knock the dumb wolf down, in which it hit its head, knocking itself out. With the last wolf, Rai leaped and wrapped her legs around its neck, using her momentum to spin herself around and throw the wolf over the edge of the blimp as she landed on one knee. When the deed was done, the fox rose to her feet, strapping her cane to her hip. "And that's that."
"Impressive." Sly smirked. "Lucky for you, we're here." He said as the three hopped off the blimp onto the Re-Education Tower, sneaking in through the window.
"What!? The mercenaries have breached the castle defenses!? All of you go! Defend this tower until the last man!" The Contessa demanded as her shadow guards made their leave.
"With the shadow guards out of the picture, you ready to free our violent little princess?" Sly asked with a snarky tone.
"You're funny..." Rai spoke up, sarcasm evident in her voice as she leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
The raccoon gave a chuckle. "I'm only kidding."
"Sure you are..." She rolled her eyes. "So, can you free Little Miss Cop, Bentley?"
"With this old terminal, locating the codes to that Irontech 2-50 should be a cinch." He then got to work.
Sly took notice to Rai, knowing where her gaze was aimed with the glare she had displayed on her face. He knew she was burning holes into the Contessa's head, and she had a good reason to. Both the Contessa and Kisara locked Rai in that prison, wanting to expose her to excruciating hypnosis, along with Kisara's constant double-crossing and the fact that the Contessa was also responsible for the deaths of her parents, so Sly couldn't really blame Rai for her blatant anger towards the Contessa. With Bentley focused on the task at hand, Sly pushed off the gate he was leaned against and walked over to the ebony feline.
"Hey," He called lightly, noticing Rai's glare harden as her eyes narrowed. "I know you want to get back at her, but right now, let's focus on getting the Clockwerk Eyes, alright? You'll get your chance."
"She doesn't deserve death, that would be too easy. No, she deserves to rot in prison, to know what it's like behind bars, to be like a caged bird." Rai scoffed lightly. "She'll pay sooner or later..."
"Alright, that should do it. Carmelita should be free right about...now!" Bentley spoke up as he finished typing.
Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
The clasps on Carmelita's wrists and ankles were suddenly released as she hopped off the wooden table she was mounted on. She shook her head, blinking a few times to clear her vision before scanning around. A smirk then formed on her lips as she spotted her shock pistol on a nearby table. "Ah-ha! I've isolated the brain pattern. You and I are about to become the best of friends, Miss Carmelita." The Contessa spoke, seeming proud.
"Okay, "new best friend," hands up, and I mean all of them." Carmelita said forcibly as she held up her pistol.
"My dear, what are you—" The spider gasped when she turned around. "Shadow Guard! Shadow Guard!" She quickly scurried off as the orange fox shot off her weapon, though missed, as usual.
"Come back here, you bitch!" Carmelita shouted as she chased after the Contessa.
The gate then flew downwards, allowing the three the leap down from the perch. "That Carmelita, always trying to solve her problems with a shock pistol." Sly chuckled.
"She is rather truculent." Bentley said while setting up the Mind Shuffler.
"More like belligerent..." Rai muttered. "We good over there, Bentley?"
"You guys might wanna stand back, this may have a bigger blast then I anticipated." Bentley quickly set up the device before scurrying off, everyone scattering as the Mind Shuffler exploded, red smoke clouding around.
"Bentley! You okay?" Sly called.
"This is no place for an asthmatic, but I've located one of the eyes, can you find the other?"
"No worries, chaps, it's safely at hand." A voice called.
The red smoke cleared, Rai suddenly growling upon seeing both Neyla and Kisara, the purple leopard having the eye attached to her back. "Neyla! Kisara!" The fox hissed.
"Hmm... One eye should be enough for the old bird, don't ya think, Neyla?" Kisara asked.
"I believe one should do indeed." She agreed. "However, I must bid you all good day. Ta-ta." The two then ran off.
"You're not getting away again, you damn whore from hell!" Rai shouted as she ran after the two.
"Bentley, take the eye and head for the blimp, I'm goin' after Neyla." Sly ordered before following after Rai.
"But, the plan! This—this wasn't part of the plan!"
"Kisara!" Rai shouted as she chased after the feline, Sly close behind, heading for Neyla.
"Oh, look! Guess you did manage to free yourself after all. What are you gonna do now, might I ask?" Kisara asked sarcastically.
"Kick your ass like I should've done years ago, now stop running, unless you're afraid."
"Sorry, I don't feel like dying today, but if you want me, then go ahead and come get me, sweetheart."
"You asked for it!" She shouted. "Sly, go for Neyla, Mira is mine."
"Hey, Bentley, this is getting pretty heavy out here. Take the eye and head for the Contessa's blimp, and stay sharp."
"Okay, I can do this..." Bentley said nervously.
"See ya, Rai-Rai!" Kisara winked as she dropped a spiderweb, leaping onto it as it shot her sky high.
Rai growled. "Don't think it'll be that easy!" She declared as she hopped onto the spiderweb only to get skyrocketed into the air, but used this to engage her paraglider, following after the feline.
The two thieves followed after the cops, practically running all around the Contessa's castle. It wasn't difficult to keep up with them, and it got even easier when Neyla wasn't watching where she was going and ended up getting stuck in a spiderweb, dropping the Clockwerk Eye. Once Neyla had gotten trapped in a web, Sly leaped up to see her stuck there and smirked. "You know, you should really watch where you're going, this place is dangerous." He said as he grabbed the eye.
"Don't you dare! That eye is mine! It's mine!" Neyla exclaimed before she was thrown off the building.
"Actually, Cooper, the eye belongs to me." Said the Contessa. "And now, if you would be so kind as to return it to me."
"Get back here, Kisara!" Rai then shouted, tackling Kisara to the ground once she was close enough as she pinned the feline down. "Got you..." She hissed.
Kisara smirked. "Congratulations. Would you like a medal?"
"Actually, I'd prefer your head on a silver platter, thanks." The fox replied darkly.
"Funny..." Kisara mused.
"Do you seriously think you're in any position to be joking around?"
"Oh, I think I am, Ali~" Kisara sang, smirking sinisterly as she did so.
Rai gasped, only to let out a loud snarl. "I said not to call me that!" She hissed.
Kisara merely chuckled. "I think you have more important things to worry about aside from your grudge against me."
Rai glared at the arrogant feline for a long moment before glancing back toward Sly, who was still being confronted by the Contessa.
"You're a lying and manipulative witch who uses her abilities just to make thieves tell you where they've stashed all their treasures. Why on earth would I give you the eye?" Sly questioned, though he knew the answer was one he didn't want to hear.
"Because I am smarter than you." She replied, Rai eyes narrowing. "And I see you have finally decided to show that face of yours, Ms. Scarlet Rose."
Rai snarled again. "Not like it's any concern of yours what I do with my identity." She replied harshly.
"No mask, perhaps, but thieving scum all the same."
"Oh yeah, like you're really one to talk, Contessa. Using her psychology degree to hypnotize people and sneak in right under Interpol's nose? Yeah, because you're just the pinnacle of a "good citizen." Don't feed me that load of b.s." The fox hissed.
"And look who is calling the kettle black, considering you managed to slip your way into the Klaww Gang."
"For a short time, and I've regret it ever since, especially after what this skank did to me." She explained, glaring back at Kisara. "And it's not like I have to explain myself to you, a lying hypnotist, who only wants the eyes to continue her sick and twisted "therapy" sessions."
"Well, regardless, that eye belongs to me, and I want it back."
"No way." Sly immediately disagreed. "You think I'm crazy-actually, on second thought, don't answer that; I really don't want your "professional opinion"."
"Not crazy, just stupid." Rai let out another snarl, Sly flashing a glance over to her. "You're an ignorant child playing dress-up in his father's legacy, and the same goes for your little fox friend over there as well." The Contessa scoffed. "Oh, yes, I know all about you and the Cooper Clan, as well as the Vixen's too."
"Then you should understand why that eye needs to be destroyed." Rai spoke up.
"Short sighted fools! I have no interest in your narrow interpretation of morality. I'm above all that, above good and evil."
"And you think I'd give the Eye to someone that's "above morality"?"
"Enough, insect! It will be just as easy, and more fun, to pry it from your cold, dead hands."
"By all means, please try, because the moment you lay a hand on him is the moment I gut you like a fish." Rai threatened.
"Sorry, but I'm afraid I do not have time for fun and games, for I am on a tight schedule." The Contessa suddenly leaped towards Sly, causing the fox to gasp.
"Ugh!? Sly, look out!" She shouted.
"Wha—gahh!" Sly cried out when the Contessa swat him with her claw, knocking the raccoon backwards as he dropped the Clockwerk Eye.
The Contessa then reached down and snatched up the glowing orb, smirking. "Many thanks, but I believe it is time to make my leave." And with that, the spider shot off a web as she took off.
Once the Contessa was gone, however, and Rai had lost focus for a mere moment, Kisara used this opportunity as she quickly headbutt the fox right square in the face. "Gahh!" Rai exclaimed, quickly gripping her nose. "You goddamn—gahh!"
With Rai was holding onto her throbbing nose, Kisara quickly sent her knee right into Rai's side, knocking her off. However, Kisara quickly grabbed Rai by the wrist, yanking the fox onto her feet, only to then pin her arm behind her back, Sly taking a step forward as he readied his cane. "My, my, you really shouldn't let your guard down, Ali, especially around me." Kisara mused.
"Shut the fuck up!" Rai shouted. "That's not my name!"
"Oh, but it is, you just refuse to acknowledge that."
"No! That's not who I am anymore!"
"Wait, what? What's going on here? And who is Kisara referring to?" Sly asked, confused.
Kisara suddenly perked up, smirking. "Oh? Are you telling me you haven't even told him, even though you're working the same case?" Kisara teased. "My, my, I wonder what other secrets you're keeping from him~"
"I said shut up!"
Wham!
"Gahh!" Kisara suddenly screeched when Rai slammed the back of her head into Kisara's nose. "Urgh! You damn bitch!"
Rai quickly stepped forward before whopping around to face the ebony feline, glaring. "That's payback, you bitch!" She hissed.
Kisara then chuckled, placing a hand against her hip. "Well, no matter. I think I've said enough already." She said. "I suppose I should be on my way then. I'll be seeing you soon, Ali~" And with that, before Rai could lunge at her, the feline took off.
"Damn her!" Rai growled. "I'll make that backstabbing white pay, I swear it!" She vowed.
However, after bellowing off into the sky, Rai warily turned toward Sly, knowing now that she had no choice but to come clean to him. "Sly, I—"
"What was Kisara talking about?" Sly cut her off. "What else aren't you telling me?"
Rai tensed up, clutching onto her cane in her hand as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "I-I..." She stammered. "Th-there's something else that I...failed to mention to you..."
"Okay, so...what is it?" Sly asked, though a bit warily.
Rai exhaled sharply, clenching her jaw for a brief moment. "My name..." She began. "It's not...Rai Vulpes... My real name is..." Rai tensed up. "...Alexandria Vermilion..."
Sly's eyes widened when Rai uttered those words. The entire time he knew her, she lied. She lied about who she was, going so far as to lie about her real name. However, he had to know why. Sly had to know what Rai needed to lie about her name as he drew in a sharp breath. "Why...?" He then asked.
"Huh...?" Rai lifted her gaze.
"Why did you lie about your real name?" Sly questioned. "And what else are you keeping from me?"
"Just that..." Rai replied. "I only lied about my name, but everything else that I've told you as of now was all true."
"Then tell me why you had to lie about your name! I don't understand why you felt the need to not tell me, even after the promise we made!" Sly began to raise his voice.
"Because I didn't have a choice!" Rai snapped, her voice beginning to break.
"...What?" Sly paused.
Rai sniffled, biting back the tears in her eyes. "They were going to kill me, Sly, so what other choice did I have?! If the Klaww Gang found out that I was a Vermilion, that I was still alive, they would've come after me! So, I made a choice, and that was to change my name, creating this persona of the Scarlet Rose in the process all so I could stay under their radar! I couldn't let them kill me, Sly, I couldn't let them find out the truth... So, I had to lie, even to you about who I really was..." Rai let out a soft sob. "I-I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner, but...I was so afraid that you wouldn't trust me again if you found out. But now..."
"Hey, hey, hold on." Sly quickly rushed over to Rai, gripping onto her arms. "Hey, Rai, look at me..." He cooed softly as he gently raised Rai's chin.
The fox opened her teary emerald eyes, sniffling again as she gazed into Sly's hazel eyes.
"Listen, Rai... You have nothing to be ashamed of. I understand – you were scared, because honestly, if I was put in that same situation, I...I probably would've done the same thing." Sly reassured, gently placing his hands against Rai's cheeks. "Come on, it's alright, you don't have to cry..." He cooed, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears in her eyes.
Rai sniffled, gripping onto one of Sly's wrists as she opened those beautiful emerald eyes of her. "S-so, you're not mad?"
"Of course not. How could I be mad at you for being afraid? You did what you had to in order to stay alive, so I could never be mad at you for that, Rai." Sly reassured her, gently kissing the fox on the forehead. "Now, come on, please stop crying. You know I don't like to see you in tears..."
Rai sniffled again, wiping her eyes with the back of her head. She then took a few deep breaths to try and calm herself down. After a couple of minutes, Rai let out a sigh, lifting her gaze back to Sly's. "Better?" He asked.
The fox nodded. "Yeah, I'm alright now... Thanks, Sly, for understanding..."
"Of course." He replied. "It's like I said, I will never turn on you, and no matter what happens, I'll always have your back."
Rai grinned, nodding again. "And I'll always have your, no matter what."
Sly smiled. "That's my girl." He said. "Now, let's go get those Clockwerk Eyes."
"Right."
"Oh? So, you have finally found me?" The Contessa turned to see the two felines on top of her castle with her, glaring daggers. "Well then, let us see how you fair against me now that I have the Clockwerk Eye."
"Not like that'll make a difference." Rai hissed.
The spider smirked though. "Then what will you do when you precious raccoon is under my spell?"
"What do you—"
Suddenly, the Contessa pounced, knocking Sly to the ground as she managed to tap into the eye's power. "Nugh!?" Sly grunted.
"You hate her, you despise the Scarlet Rose, you want to kill Rai Vulpes, Sly Cooper, and you will."
"Sly, no! Don't listen to her!" Rai shouted, but it was already too late.
The Contessa backed away as Sly slowly rose to his feet, his head down as he picked up his fallen cane, Rai staring at him cautiously. "S...Sly?"
The sinister spider gave a smirk as she held her claw up. "Kill her."
Suddenly, Sly dashed forward, Rai gasping as she stumbled backwards, which caused her to fall flat on her ass. Before she knew it though, the fox was pinned to the ground as Sly had snatched up her cane and switched it to its blade form, holding it above his head, ready to stab her right then and there. Sly then rammed the blade down, but Rai grabbed his wrist, trying to hold the blade back that was mere centimeters away from her neck, and slowly inching closer the longer she struggled.
"S-Sly, wait!" She tried to call out to him. "You don't want to do this, it's her controlling you! This isn't you! Snap out of it!"
Sly suddenly growled, lifting his gaze to reveal his once chocolate brown eyes now a blood red color as Rai gasped, her azure hues widening, but this caught her off guard as she lost her grip on Sly's wrist, the blade coming down. The fox quickly moved her head to the side out of reflex, but the blade still cut the left side of her neck, causing her to wince. She heard the raccoon growl again as he lifted the blade, aiming for Rai's neck once more. However, before he could stab her in the throat, the fox reacted, grabbing the blade that was mere inches away from her neck. She gripped it tightly, cringing a bit as it sliced into her palm, but she tried to ignore it.
"Sly...! No...!" Rai gasped. "Sly, this isn't you...! You have to fight it, fight her! Don't give in! Please...you can't let her win!" She said, her vision clouding slightly with her tears.
Sly stared into Rei's teary emerald eyes. His hands suddenly began to tremble as he gripped the handle of her katana, tears too brimming his once hazel eyes. "Don't do this, Sly... You're stronger than this... Please, I can't...I can't lose you too...!" She said in shaky voice, those tears sliding down her face and into her dark fur as she gripped the blade of her katana tighter, cutting further into her palm. "Sly, please...! Don't let her control you! Please...! I can't do this without you..." Rai clenched her jaw for a moment as she clutched onto her sword tighter, not caring if it continued to cut into the palm of her hand. "Sly, I...I love you... Don't let her take you away from us, from me, please!"
Sly stared in horror at the fox below him, begging for him to break away from this trance that witch had put him under. Tears finally slipped out of his eyes as his grip on the handle loosened, Rai quickly releasing the blade as her katana clattered onto the rooftop. "Rai...!" He sobbed, that blood red fading back into a beautiful hazel chestnut color.
The fox then smiled warmly. "Sly...!"
She pushed herself to sit up as the raccoon buried himself into her chest, holding her tightly. Rai returned the embrace as she rubbed his back, cooing to him softly while the Contessa was just in pure shock at the fact that this raccoon somehow managed to break through her mind control. "Rai...! I'm...I'm so sorry...! I'm so, so sorry...! How could I even think to do such a thing to you? I could've killed you!"
"Shhhh... It's alright, Sly, you don't have to apologize. I'm not mad, so it's alright... Just calm down..." She gently lifted his chin, wiping the tears from both her eyes and his as she cupped his cheek in her palm. "I knew that you would come back to me..."
"But, I—"
"Shhh... I said it's alright." She gently kissed his forehead.
"Rai, I just... Ugh!?" He gasped upon seeing the cut on her neck. "Rai, your neck! D-did I..." Sly gasped again when he noticed her hand was bleeding. "No way... What have I done...?"
"Hey, Sly, look at me." Rai said sternly, gripping his chin. "This wasn't you fault. I moved out of the way before you could seriously injure me, and my hand, well...I did that. When I grabbed the blade, it cut into my palm, but it's not your fault, alright?"
He didn't reply as Rai gave a small grin before reaching into her pouch to pull out some bandaging she had kept on her. She sloppily wrapped her wounded hand, pulling it tight with her teeth, which made her wince slightly. Sly immediately got worried, but she shook her head and waved it off before wrapping a bandage around her neck, stuffing the rest away once finished.
"Stay here for me, okay? This shouldn't take long. Once I have the eye, we'll meet up with the others." She said as Sly nodded, Rai getting back to her feet while picking her fallen blade, though she had a dark glint in her eyes now.
"H-how!? How did he break my hypnosis!?" The Contessa gasped.
"How? Because Sly has a much stronger mind then you originally thought, Contessa, and now, because of your insolence, you're going to pay." Rai hissed.
"Wait, I—ahhh!" The spider gasped as the fox sliced at one of her legs.
"That's for throwing me in your damn daycare." She sliced at her arm next, the spider gasping. "That is for trying to use Murray as your plaything." The fox rammed her sword into the Contessa's shoulder, causing her to scream out in pain. "And that is for trying to take what is rightfully mine. Don't you ever try to take Sly, or any of my friends, away from me again, do I make myself clear?" She then yanked her blade out, switching it back into a cane as she whacked the Contessa in the head, knocking her down. "This is my family now, and I'm not going to let the likes of you, or anyone else, take that away from me again." Rai hissed as she reached over, grabbing the fallen Clockwerk Eye, which she strapped to her back before going back over to Sly.
"Let's get outta here, okay?" The fox smiled as she held out her hand.
Sly nodded with grin as he took the offered hand, getting to his feet before the two leaped, paragliding down.
We managed to retrieve the Clockwerk Eyes. The Contessa was arrested by both Neyla and Kisara, in which they were then promoted to Captain. The Contessa would be sent to prison, and we had to help Carmelita escape as well, after snatching the other eye from her, of course, thanks to Murray's handy work with that tank he hot-wired. Sly still apologized I don't know how many times for what happened, but I kept telling him it was alright. It wasn't his fault the Contessa tried to hypnotize him... However, despite all that and aside from helping the inspector escape with us, which I honestly didn't mind for some reason, she still refused to stick around with us, which I could understand. I didn't really care since it was her choice and I knew she hated hanging around thieves like us. But with the toughest part of our journey finally coming to an end, we still decided to lay low for a while. Still though, this adventure of ours was far from over, and I have the distinctive feeling it's not going to get any easier either...