Disclaimer: I do not own the Sly Cooper franchise, nor any of its characters
Chapter 1: A gang of orphans
In a large villa, somewhere deep in the countryside of Massachusetts, a little 8 year old fox girl was playing with her new dolls in her bedroom. She got these nice dolls from her parents, since it was her birthday today. She was so happy. Even though the sun was down, the little fox girl wasn't tired yet and really wanted to play with her new dolls.
One boy doll, that the little fox girl had dressed as an evil Mexican criminal, was stealing money from innocent people.
"Bwahaha! Money, money, money." the fox girl imitated with a Mexican accent, as the bad criminal had so much money in his vault, that it kissed the fake coins on the floor
Then, a brave young American fox man appeared, dressed in a black outfit and wearing a black eye mask. As it used a distraction, the Conner doll sneaked behind the bad guy, unlocking the vault and took all the stolen money. When he was gone, the bad guy doll turned himself, seeing in shock that all his stolen goods were gone! "What?! Where…?! WHERE IS MY MONEY!?"
The Conner doll chuckled at the bad guy while going to the innocent people (who were actually a set of all kinds of dolls) and returned all the stolen money. "Oh! Our money! Thank you, thank you, stranger!" One doll said in a high voice, followed by more thanks from the innocent people.
But then, the bad guy appeared, looking furious "CONNER FOX! YOU STOLE MY MONEY! THIEF!"
As the innocent people trembled in fear, the Conner doll glanced down at the criminal, showing no fear and said "I may be a thief, but I don't steal from innocent people. There's no honor in that."
This made the bad guy furious as it draw it's big toy gun "That's it! YOU'RE MINE!"
After a long fight, the Conner doll had defeated the bad guy. As it lied on the ground, it growled in pain while saying "You… I'll get you… for this… Conner… Fox…"
When the bad guy passed out, a beautiful lady doll ran to the Conner doll and held him in her arms "My hero!" and both gave each other many kisses.
Then the fox girl said while pretending the two dolls got married "…and they lived happily ever after, together with their little daughter, Carmelita."
Just then, the little fox girl heard someone chuckling behind her. She turned herself and saw that it was her father, Conner Fox, who said with a raised eyebrow while still smiling "I don't remember that that was how I met your mother back in Mexico, Carmelita."
The little fox girl, Carmelita shrugged as she put her dolls down on the ground "I just wanted to make you more heroic, daddy."
Her father formed a smile as he sat on one knee, glancing at his daughter "And you sure can tell wonderful stories, my sweet little angel."
Carmelita smiled bright to her father, before she embraced him in a tight hug, which Conner returned, though he didn't hugged her so tight.
That was when Carmelita's mother, Isabella, another vixen but from Mexican decent, walked into Carmelita's room while rubbing her 5 month pregnant belly with her left hand and said to her daughter while giggling "If you're hugging your father to tight, he won't be able to breath, mi hija (my daughter)."
When Carmelita heard that, she let her father go "Oh, sorry…"
But her father just laughed "Don't mind your mother, Carmelita. You can hug me as tight as you want, anytime." Conner finished with a wink, what made Isabella roll her eyes, though trying to suppress a smile.
That was when Isabella felt a little kick in her belly and gasped "Oh! It kicked!" Carmelita looked surprised at her mother, before she smiled brightly and ran over to her mother, holding her head to her pregnant belly, hoping to feel the kick too.
After some time, the baby kicked again, making Carmelita laugh "Hihihihi! I can't wait to finally meet you too, little sister." Carmelita softly said to her mother's pregnant belly, hoping her unborn baby sister could hear her.
It was only a few weeks ago when she went with her parents for the ultra sound, seeing that the new addition to the Fox family would be a girl.
The little fox girl then glanced to her mother, asking "How long before she will be born?"
Isabella chuckled while telling "Just 4 more months, Carmelita."
That Carmelita still had to wait for 4 more months before finally getting to see her baby sister, made her to moan "But I have been waiting for soooooooo long, mommy!"
That was when Isabella sat carefully on her knees and looked into her daughter's eyes while holding her cheeks softly "I know it's very long, novia (sweetheart), but the baby need to grow first before it's going to be born. Otherwise it won't live. Do you understand now, Carmelita?" Carmelita nodded to her mother.
Conner then asked, as he raised Carmelita "Did you like your presents?"
Carmelita glanced back to her father and nodded heavily "This was the best birthday ever!"
That was when Conner tapped his mouth while he thought "Well… I believe that there is one more thing left-"
When her father said that, made Carmelita's eyes go wide and formed a huge smile "Another present?! Whoopee!" Carmelita's enthusiasm made both her parents laugh "What is it?!" Carmelita asked, wanting to know dearly what else her parents are about to give her for her birthday.
Conner chuckled while he put his daughter down and said "It's a surprise. Come." Conner told while leaving Carmelita's bedroom. Slowly, Isabella raised herself and offered her hand to Carmelita, what the little fox girl gladly did and left with her mother downstairs to the living room.
When they reached the living room, Conner held something in his hands. An old book. But as Carmelita took a closer look, she was in awe when she realized that it was the most priced possession of the Fox family: The Thievius Vulpinus.
Without saying any words, Carmelita looked at her father, who gave her a nod and slowly gave her the book. For so long, she was never allowed to read it till she was 8 years old. Cause of all the celebrations, the little fox girl had nearly forgotten about it, and now… she had the ancient book, in her hands….
Conner put his hand on her shoulder and asked softly "You know what this book means, right?".
Carmelita nodded "Yes, daddy. This is the Thievius Vulpinus. An ancient book that has all the detailed special thieving skills that all our ancestors have developed."
Conner nodded as he stated "Very good, Carmelita. And now that you're 8 years old, this book now belongs to you."
Carmelita couldn't believe that she can have their ancient family book. Conner then further stated "Now it is your turn to write down your adventures in the book. But always remember, Carmelita. The Fox Clan maybe a clan of thieves, we only steal from other thieves. For there is no honor, no challenge, no fun in stealing from ordinary people. If you rip off a master criminal, you know you're a master thief. Take good care of this book. Do you promise?"
Carmelita nodded as she held the book close to her chest "I promise, daddy."
Carmelita couldn't help but to give her father another hug, what Conner gladly returned.
When they broke the hug, Carmelita wasted no time to finally see what the pages of the ancient book had to say about her ancestors.
While Carmelita sat down on a couch, she slowly opened the book and was already amazed at the moment she read the first few pages. Conner couldn't stop smiling while he put his arm around Isabella's waist "I remember when I was like that when I was her age," Conner whispered to his wife "Couldn't wait till I finally read the book. And when I did… I lost for words. Just like Carmelita."
Isabella smiled while glancing at her husband. She then rubbed her pregnant belly while whispering back "Well, in eight years, our second daughter can see the book too and share so many adventures with her big sister, just like their brave and strong daddy."
Conner smiled back at Isabella, and both shared a tenderly kiss. Everything was almost perfect for them.
But then….
Suddenly, all the lights in the house went out, making Isabella gasp. While they all thought at first that it was just a power failure, Conner decided to check the security systems around the house.
When he started up the computer, it started to beep as movement was detected around the house "The motion detectors have sensed some movement." Conner worriedly said to his wife, who stood next to him and looked at another monitor, showing warnings of movement all around the house.
"What is going on here? It's like the entire system has been hijacked" Isabella said with confusion.
Though Carmelita was a bit scared, her curiosity made her to check through the window. She spotted someone, looking like a big panda bear, lighten up something. Then what she saw, was dozens of flares flying high up "Hey look! Fireworks!" Carmelita called to her parents.
"Fireworks? Who would-" Conner wandered, but the moment he looked where Carmelita stood at the window, he saw the flares coming right towards the house! "CARMELITA, GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOW!" Conner yelled as he raced to his daughter and pulled her away from the window, just before the flares exploded, destroying the whole wall and send Conner and Carmelita in his arms flying through the air!
Conner landed on his feet, holding Carmelita close to him. Isabella ran to her daughter to check if she was okay "Carmelita! Are you hurt, sweety?!"
Carmelita, who was shaking of nearly being hit by the explosion shook her head that she wasn't hurt.
The whole family then looked back at the destroyed wall, to see who had fired those flares. They saw four individuals before their house. A big frog with a high hat, a hound with very large muscled arms, a female crocodile commanding dozens of ghosts and a big panda wearing Chinese clothes, all glaring at them. But then, a larger robotic owl showed up, that flew high in the moonlight, looking at the Fox's with a death glare. Conner gasped in fear as he knew who it was "It's him…!"
However, Conner was gonna allow this robotic owl and his thugs to hurt his family. Conner instructed Isabella as he gave Carmelita to her "Isabella, take Carmelita and get out of here!"
While Conner grabbed his cane, Isabella shook her head as she didn't wanted to leave her husband behind "No Connor! I'm not going without you!"
"You have to! For our daughters!"
Seeing no other options, Isabella nodded and grabbed Carmelita's arm "C'mon, Carmelita!"
The little girl nodded, but then reminded herself that she left the Thievius Vulpinus on the floor "Wait! The Thievius Vulpinus! We can't leave it!" but her mother didn't listen and dragged her away as fast as she could, while Conner faced the five individuals.
Carmelita could hear the robotic owl calling to her father "Conner Fox, you cannot escape from me this time. This is where you will die and your family's legacy will end."
Conner tightly held his cane as he called back, ready to face the owl and his thugs "NEVER!"
"Now my associates, ATTACK!" the robotic owl called to the other four to attack, with Conner standing alone to face them.
Isabella ran with her daughter across the house, finding a way to escape. But every door was locked by some strange dark magic. Seeing no other way out, Isabella quickly opened a closet and instructed his daughter while putting her in it "Carmelita, you stay here. No matter what happens, stay here, alright!?" Carmelita nodded, while she was still shaking. Isabella gave her one last kiss on the forehead, as she grabbed some pistols to help her husband.
Carmelita watched from inside the closet as her parents faced the intruders. Conner fought bravely, but was soon overwhelmed by the robotic owl! It grabbed him tight with its talons and threw him to a nearby wall!
Isabella shot with her pistols many rounds, but for some reason… they all stopped in midair by some dark magic. The female crocodile laughed evilly as she faced Isabella "Hahahaha! Nicely tried Mrs. Fox, but your bullets are no match for my voodoo powers. Eat this!" the female crocodile then launched many dark orbs from her hands. Isabella had no time to react and was hit several times till she was send flying throughout the room!
"Isabella! NO!" Conner yelled in horror.
Conner tried to come to his wife's aid, but was stopped in his tracks by the large panda, who attacked him with his own made Kungfu technic "FEIRY WHEEL!" and slammed right to the hound with his large muscled arms, grabbing Conner in midair and pinned him down!
The hound slammed Conner hard in the face and stomach several times, till he threw him to a nearby wall! Conner fell down, nearly unable to move. He watched his wife, who was held down to the floor by the female crocodile.
Carmelita started forming tears in her eyes, seeing her parents being overwhelmed by the intruders.
The big robotic owl entered the house, glaring at Conner. He then grabbed Conner by the throat with his talons, nearly chocking him as the robotic owl faced him. Before he would talk, he ordered the frog and the hound "Raleigh. Muggshot. Search the house. Find the book." the frog named Raleigh and the hound named Muggshot nodded as they searched the entire house, looking for the book their boss mentioned.
The robotic owl then glanced back at Conner, asking with an evil smirk "Any last words before you die, Conner Fox?" Conner couldn't speak back as the talons were holding his throat really tight.
Carmelita almost couldn't handle it "Daddy… no…" she whispered in fear.
As Conner struggled for air, he looked into the robotic owl's yellow eyes and spit out blood in it's face, telling "GO TO HELL, CLOCKWORK!" unfortunately, those were the last words he could yell out, as the robotic owl named Clockwork ripped out Conner's throat!
Isabella was horrified, as the owl dropped her husbands dead body on the floor, as a pool of blood flowed from his ripped out throat "Conner, NOOOOO!" she yelled as tears flowed from her eyes.
Carmelita watched with wide eyes. She froze, unable to process of what the trauma she just witnessed. Her own father, killed by this evil robotic owl.
As Clockwork laughed evilly at the body of Conner Fox, he then glanced over to Isabella "Mz. Ruby." Clockwork commanded the female crocodile named only by Mz. Ruby. She nodded and used her voodoo powers to make Isabella rise up, unable to move. Clockwork walked over to her.
However, the large panda seemed conflicted by this for some reason, as he knew that his boss was going to kill a pregnant women. So he moved in between and said to Isabella "Madam. Tell us where you hide the Thievius Vulpinus and we will let you live. You and the baby."
Isabella glanced at the Panda for a moment, with tears in her eyes. But before she could answer, Clockwork angrily asked the Panda "You dare to stand between me and my prey, Panda King?"
Nearly scared, the Panda King looked at his boss and humbly said while making a bow "Clockwork. Master. She is with child…"
Clockwork moved closer to his face, making the Panda King very nervous "She carries another addition to the Fox family-line, and I will not have another Fox to deal with! Now… move."
The Panda King, seeing no choice, makes a bow while slowly moving out of the way. Clockwork raises his razor sharp talons, and pierces right through Isabella's chest!
Carmelita sobbed while holding her hands on her mouth. Tears flowed from her eyes, seeing both her mother and unborn baby sister being killed "Mommy…" was all the little girl fox could say, as the dead body of Isabella fell on the floor.
The Panda King looked away while saying quietly under his breath "I'm sorry."
Clockwork however wasn't done yet as he scanned his surroundings, looking for one more Fox. The robotic owl noticed a closet nearby that was ajar. It slowly marched over to the closet, making Carmelita crawl backwards till her back was against the closet wall. She closed her eyes tight, feelings so scared that the evil owl was gonna get her. Clockwork moved his closer to the closet and was about to open it….
"Hey Boss!" Muggshot called, making Clockwork turn himself with a raised eye.
"Look what we found." Raleigh the frog said as he handed over the ancient boom to Clockwork.
The robotic owl smirked evilly as he took the book "Hahahahaha! At long last. The Thievius Vulpinus!"
All five gathered around their boss, tearing apart the Thievius Vulpinus, taking several pages for themselves. As Clockwork threw away the ripped apart book, he laughed in victorious "Bwahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Without this book, without it's useful pages, the Fox line means nothing! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Carmelita remained hidden for some time, till she was sure that the evil people had left. When she stepped out of the closet, slowly, she walked over to her dead parents, lying on the floor in a pool of blood.
No words came from her mouth. All she was now, was in shock as tears kept flowing from her eyes.
Carmelita walked over to a phone and called the emergency number.
"9-1-1, what is your emergency?" a female voice sounded through the phone within a few seconds.
Carmelita couldn't stop herself from sobbing, as she spoke through the phone "Please… my… my mommy and daddy are dead…. Some men… and a women came into our house and…. Please help…"
The phone operator could clearly hear the frightened little girl's voice and told calmly "Okay, just stay calm, sweety. Are those people still in your home?"
Carmelita shook her head while answering "No… they are gone."
"Are you hurt? Did they hurt you too?"
"No… I'm okay…. I'm so scared…!" Carmelita said as she started sobbing again.
The female phone operator tried to calm her down "What is your name, sweetheart? Tell me your name."
"C-Carmelita…. I'm Carmelita…"
"Okay, don't worry, Carmelita, the police are on their way. Stay somewhere safe till they are at your house, okay?"
Carmelita nodded while she said "O…okay…"
After hanging up the phone, Carmelita walked over to her dead father, and slowly took his cane. She then picked up the ripped apart Thievius Vulpinus from the floor, now emptied of its pages. Carmelita knew what to do, as she was taught what to do if something would ever happen to her parents. The little fox girl walked up the stairs to her room, which was now ransacked by the hound and the frog, in search of the book. While she sobbed, she took some clothes out of her destroyed closet and placed it in a bag, together with the torn apart Thievius Vulpinus.
Carmelita then looked at her dolls and toys that lied all over the floor, all broken and ripped apart… except one. Her little fox doll that her mother had made for her since she was a baby. Carmelita took it while sitting on the floor and hugging it. She kept crying, begging herself that this is all nothing but a bad dream… but yet, it wasn't.
A few days later…
Little Carmelita was brought by a police car to her new place. Because she had nowhere else to go and was now basically orphaned, the police had no choice but to place her in a orphanage.
During the whole drive to the orphanage, Carmelita held her doll and father's cane close to her. The cat police women who drove the car, looked back at little Carmelita for a moment when the car stopped before a traffic light. Ever since Carmelita had lost her parents and was brought to the police station, the female cat had stayed mostly around Carmelita, to give her comfort and was even there for her when her parents were buried today.
Carmelita glanced for a moment to the police women, who gave her a little smile and ensured her "Don't worry, little Carmelita. They're gonna take good care of you in the orphanage. And I'm sure you're gonna make lots and lots of friends there."
Carmelita just gave a shrug before she decided to stare outside at the window. The police women sighed when she returned her focus to the traffic.
When the light turned green and the police car started driving again, Carmelita asked the police women "Uh… Miss Richards?"
"Yes?" the police women asked nicely back while keeping her eyes on the traffic.
"I… heard yesterday that I was going to a girls orphanage, right? Why am I going to a different one now?" Carmelita asked.
Police officer Richards then stated "Right… I'm sorry that we didn't told you yet. The girls orphanage unfortunately didn't had any space left. But don't you worry, 'Happy Camper Orphanage' is also a very nice place. Trust me, I double checked it." officer Richards said while giving a wink to Carmelita, what earned her a smile. Miss Richards was glad to finally see a smile on the little fox girl.
When the police car pulled over in front of the orphanage, officer Richards stepped out first before opening the car door for Carmelita. While the cat police officer took her bag, Carmelita stepped out with her father's cane and her doll in her hands.
As they entered the orphanage, a few orphaned children looked curiously through the windows to the little fox girl coming in "Looks like a new girl is coming." an elephant 6 year old girl said, while a 9 year old tiger boy nodded.
Carmelita was first brought to the headmistress of the orphanage, Mrs. Puffin. As they entered the office, the old Horned Puffin was eating a cookie before standing up, welcoming the police officer "Ah, officer Richards. We had expected you."
Both women shake hands before the police officer introduced Carmelita to the headmistress "This is Carmelita Fox, the little girl my coworkers had called about".
The horned puffin glanced at Carmelita with an unusual look on her face "Ahh, so you must be Carmelita Fox, right?" Carmelita was feeling a bit scared of the old lady and hided behind officer Richards leg. The police officer patted her head, to know it was alright.
After a few more minutes, the police officer said her goodbyes to Carmelita before being escorted out by Mrs. Puffin "Don't worry, officer. We'll take good care of Carmelita."
Officer Richards nodded "I'm sure you will. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Have a good day." Officer Richards gave a nod before leaving.
Once officer Richards had drove away and Mrs. Puffin closed the front door, she returned her glance at Carmelita, telling with a serious look "Now listen closely. In this orphanage we have rules. And if you break the rules, there are consequences. Do you understand?" Still a bit scared, Carmelita nodded, making Mrs. Puffin smirk "Good," the old horned puffin then called her assistant "Miss Sunnyside!"
Out of the living room, where some of the orphaned children were playing, came a young female poodle "Yes, Mrs. Puffin?"
"Would you be kind enough to show Carmelita around and escort her to her new room?" Mrs. Puffin instructed.
The female poodle named Miss Sunnyside nodded "Of course, Mrs. Puffin." She then offered her hand to Carmelita while giving a warm smile "Would you like to meet the other children?"
Carmelita hesitated first, but after seeing that Miss Sunnyside seemed a kind women, she nodded and gave her hand.
The little fox girl was shown around the orphanage, where the children were allowed to play and where the classroom was. Carmelita was even introduced to the other children, who all seemed nice. Except for the few teenage orphans, who just gave the little fox girl a nod.
After the tour was over, Carmelita was shown to her room. Miss Sunnyside opened the door and walked inside with Carmelita. There were three beds in the room, with two of them already being taken, except for the third one, close to the window "Here we are. This is your room. Well, you're going to have to share it with two other children. But that's not a problem for you, right?" Miss Sunnyside asked Carmelita.
The little fox girl shook her head that it was okay.
After helping Carmelita packing out and putting her clothes a closet, Miss Sunnyside took out a few dirty ones from Carmelita's bag and said kindly "I'll wash these for you, okay?" Carmelita just gave a nod, while looking a bit sad as she sat on her new bed.
Miss Sunnyside stroke her back while softly stating "I know you still got to get used to your new place, Carmelita, but it'll be okay." Carmelita didn't say anything. Miss Sunnyside knew that the little girl needed some time alone and said with a friendly smile before leaving "Lunch will be served in an hour, so… I'll call you when it's time, okay?" Carmelita nodded, without looking at Miss Sunnyside.
Once the poodle women had left and closed the door, Carmelita took something out of the bag. The torn apart Thievius Vulpinus. Inside the cover, Carmelita had kept a small family photo of her and her parents. When she took it, she kept staring at it for a long time. Tears formed in her eyes and slowly began to sob.
But then, she heard something from under her bed, like a stomach growling. This made Carmelita curious as she wiped away her tears. She put her family book down and peeked under the bed, being surprised to see a hippo boy, hiding under her bed. He squeaked quietly when Carmelita spotted him.
Carmelita raised an eyebrow, wandering what this hippo boy was doing under her bed "Hey, what are you doing under my bed?"
The hippo held his finger on his mouth, trying to hush Carmelita "Shhh! I'm playing hide and seek." but then, his stomach growled again, making the hippo embarrassed, making Carmelita giggle.
Without either knowing, another orphan came into the room. A turtle boy, wearing glasses. He peeked under the bed, seeing the hippo "Ha! Found you!" Disappointed, the hippo crawled out of Carmelita's bed that he had lost the game. But then, both him and the turtle boy glanced at Carmelita.
The turtle boy approached her and asked "Hey, you're new here?"
Carmelita nodded as she introduced herself "Yeah. Uhm… I'm… Carmelita."
The turtle and the hippo gave her a smile "Please to meet you, Carmelita. I'm Bentley and this is Murray." the turtle boy said while introducing himself and his hippo friend.
"Hi." Murray said while giving a small wave, but then his stomach growled again out of embarrassment, making Carmelita giggle again. But then Murray asked "Say, you sleep here in this room?"
Carmelita nodded "Mmm hmm. You two here too?" both Murray and Bentley nodded.
As the day progressed, Carmelita was getting to know Bentley and Murray better.
Murray told that he'd been in the orphanage for three years already. He stated that his father had died in a car crash before he was born and his mother had died of cancer. Despite Murray's large size and not being that smart, apparently he was very strong and would only use it to defend himself or his friends.
Bentley however never got to know his parents, as he told that he was abandoned at the orphanage when he was just a baby. However, Bentley seemed to be very smart and was a tech genius. Despite that the headmistress Mrs. Puffin didn't encouraged the turtle's briliant mind, Miss Sunnyside was always kind enough to let Bentley borrow some grown-up books to study.
Carmelita was reticent about telling her about her family, but entrusted Bentley and Murray enough to tell them that her parents had recently died after some men had broken into their house.
As they became close, Carmelita became a sort of, big sister figure to her new best friends, Bentley and Murray.
As the months progressed, Carmelita slowly started to get better. However, as her feelings had warned her, Mrs. Puffin was a terrible women, being cruel to the children most of the time. Miss Sunnyside couldn't do much about Mrs. Puffin's strict rules, but did her best to make the children's lives better.
The day before Christmas…
Carmelita did her best to try paying attention to Mrs. Puffin's teachings during class, but was bored cause of her constantly difficult lessons. Though Bentley did knew most of the answers, what came to no surprise as he was the smartest child in the orphanage.
When the day was nearly over, Miss Sunnyside came into the classroom with packages of cookies, as it was tradition in the orphanage to give cookies to the children during Christmas. Carmelita was smiling bright, but then noticed that the other children weren't smiling. She wandered why.
When Miss Sunnyside exited the classroom, Mrs. Puffin took her own cookie jar from under her desk and then put every cookie that was in the packages in her own jar. All the children looked sad as Mrs. Puffin took all their cookies, again.
Carmelita then called "Mrs. Puffin! Those cookies are for us!" Some children gasped as Carmelita called to the horned puffin.
Mrs. Puffin glared at Carmelita for a moment, before she smirked while taking a bite from one of the cookies "Now… they are mine."
This was making Carmelita angry "That's not fair! Those cookies are for us! Every Christmas we suppose to get them! You're a thief!" that made the other children gasp even more, even Murray and Bentley were shocked at what their friend and roommate said, standing up to all of them.
Mrs. Puffin kept glaring at Carmelita while she walked over to her while taking her wooden ruler "And who made these rules? Me. And when I say that all the cookies are mine, they are MINE. In this building, in this orphanage, my will is law!"
However, Carmelita wasn't going to take this from Mrs. Puffin anymore and said angrily "Then you're nothing but a mean old bag that doesn't deserve to be head of this orphanage!" that insult made the children gasp even more.
Mrs. Puffin then grabs her tight by the ear and drags her in front of the classroom "Ow! Ow! You're hurting me!"
When they were in front of the classroom, Mrs. Puffin commanded Carmelita "Reach out your hands!"
Carmelita was still angry, but did what Mrs. Puffin told her to do. The horned puffin then fiercely said "Like I told you before, Carmelita Fox. When you break the rules of the orphanage, there are consequences!" the old lady then started hitting her wooden ruler hard on Carmelita's open hands, hurting her more! Tears started to form in Carmelita's eyes cause of the pain, but her anger was still the same.
When Mrs. Puffin stopped after more then a dozen hits, she pointed to the corner of the classroom "Now, as punishment, you sit there in the corner with your face to the wall till diner!" while giving her one more glare, Carmelita went to the corner and sat with her legs crossed, facing the wall. Her hands still hurt and kept them under her armpits.
After class had ended and most children left the room to either play outside in the snow or helping Miss Sunnyside decorating the Christmas tree, Carmelita was still there in the corner of the classroom.
Bentley and Murray stayed behind, to be there for their big sister. The turtle and hippo both sat next to Carmelita and stroke her back.
The little fox girl shook her head as how Mrs. Puffin was being so cruel to take all the cookies that was suppose to be for the children "It's so unfair!"
"We know, Carmelita," Bentley stated "but, she has been doing that to us every year and there is nothing we can do about it."
Murray's stomach began to growl again "Ooooooh! I have been looking forward to have some of those delicious cookies."
Carmelita knew how Murray was sometimes unable to sleep as he never couldn't stop thinking about the cookies that Mrs. Puffin was always eating and felt sorry for him.
But that was when Carmelita remembered her father's words, the evening that she was about to inherit the Thievius Vulpinus 'But always remember, Carmelita. The Fox Clan maybe a clan of thieves, we only steal from other thieves. For there is no honor, no challenge, no fun in stealing from ordinary people. If you rip off a master criminal, you know you're a master thief.'
The little fox girl then started thinking and got to an idea. But she would need help for this. She glanced at her two friends and instructed them "Meet me in our room, tonight." Bentley and Murray looked a bit weirded out, but gave a nod.
Later, that same evening…
Murray and Bentley met with Carmelita in their room. She sat on her bed with her legs crossed, looking serious. Both the turtle and the hippo had no idea what their big sister was up to, but approached her anyway and sat on her bed across her "What is it, Carmelita?" Bentley asked.
The little fox girl gave a big sigh before she stated "Listen, I'm about to tell you guys something. Something that is so secretive, that I can only entrust you two."
Bentley and Murray glanced at each other for a moment, before looking back at Carmelita "Uhh… okay." Bentley said, while Murray just gave a nod.
Then Carmelita became even more serious and said "Okay, but you both have to promise that you will not tell this to anyone. ANYONE." being a bit shocked how serious Carmelita was, Murray and Bentley nodded.
"Raise your right hands!" Carmelita instructed. Bentley did so, while Murray raised his left hand "Your other right, Murray." Carmelita said while rolling her eyes, making Murray to raise his right hand instead.
"Now, repeat after me," Carmelita instructed while telling "I do solemnly swear, that I will not tell anyone else about Carmelita's secret."
"I do solemnly swear, that I will not tell anyone else about Carmelita's secret." Bentley and Murray said simultaneously, repeating Carmelita's words.
Then Carmelita said "Now cross your hearts!" Bentley and Murray did so and crossed their chests with their right hand.
"Okay, now you both made a vow, that means there is no way back after this, you understand!?" Carmelita said even more serious, making Bentley and Murray nod widely "You will not tell this to anyone, right?!" Carmelita asked serious again, making Bentley and Murray shook widely, vowing not to tell anyone else Carmelita's secret.
Being sure that they wouldn't tell, Carmelita then took something from under her pillow. It was her torn apart Thievius Vulpinus and put it in between her and her friends, together with her father's cane that she took from under her bed.
Bentley had recognized the book without pages "Hey, isn't that the same book you wouldn't allow us to see and the strange 'stick' that you're don't allowing anybody to have?" Carmelita nodded, while Bentley readjusted his glasses.
That was when Carmelita started to tell her two best friends about her family's history, that she was coming from a long family line of thieves, going all the way back thousands of years. She explained, that this torn apart ancient book, was a journal that had passed down in the Fox family for many generations, what included all the Fox's secrets of sneaking and stealing. She then told the Fox's family code, that they only steal from other thieves and not from ordinary people, as there was no honor in it.
Carmelita then stated that this 'stick' was a cane and was an important family heirloom, symbolizing the Fox Clan.
Both Bentley and Murray were fascinated after hearing Carmelita's backstory. However, both still didn't understand why she was telling them, so Bentley asked "But… why are you telling us all of this, Carmelita?"
"Because I can only trust you two with my family's secret, and also… I need your help." Carmelita stated.
"What do you need help for, Carmelita?" Murray asked.
Carmelita shoved a bit closer and quietly said "You both know that Mrs. Puffin is a thief, for stealing all those cookies, right?" Bentley and Murray nodded "I say… we steal Mrs. Puffin's cookie jar and give the children their deserved treat."
Both Bentley and Murray were surprised that Carmelita even suggested something like this "W-w-we s-steal Mrs. P-Puffin's cookie jar?! But… we'll get into serious trouble!" Bentley stuttered quietly while being a bit panicked.
Murray was about to agree with Bentley, but after his stomach growled again after thinking of those delicious cookies, he started to reconsider this.
Carmelita saw that her two best friends doubted, so she tried to convince them one more time "Just think about it, guys. The other kids won't be feeling miserable anymore during Christmas and that foul old lady bag will finally feel what the others had to go through for all these years! You, Bentley, with your brilliant mind we'll get through this." that remark did made Bentley flattered "And Murray, your strength will finally come of hand, as you will use it for the honor of the other kids and their happiness." Murray raised an eyebrow while glancing at his strong arms "And… if we have some cookies left after giving the other kids some, we'll keep the rest for ourselves. We'll have a cookie party!" Carmelita finished with a mischievous look on her face, while enthusiastically mentioning to have a cookie party, making Murray's stomach growl even more as he imagined himself being in a bath filled with delicious cookies and Bentley thinking that he can finally use his intelligence for the greater good.
Bentley and Murray smiled mischievous while glancing at each other for a moment, before looking back at their big sister, giving her a nod "Let's do it!" Both said simultaneously, what made Carmelita forming a big smile.
The next few hours, Bentley had started to make a plan in order to steal the cookie jar from Mrs. Puffin, while Carmelita and Murray made sure that they wouldn't be disturbed. After some time, Bentley had gathered Carmelita and Murray while showing his plan on some drawn papers.
"Okay. After much hard thinking and calculating, I have come up with the perfect plan to get Mrs. Puffin's cookie jar. I call it: Operation Cookie party!" Bentley stated while showing the plans at a piece of paper, with at the top saying in big signs: Operation Cookie party.
Bentley then took a second paper, telling about phase one of the plan "Carmelita, you'll hide in Puffin's trash bin until after she's left for the night and would swipe the cookies then. According to my calculations, you only have five minutes between Puffin's departure and the janitor's arrival. So you got to be quick."
Carmelita nodded while giving a thumps up "You got it."
Then Bentley showed a third paper, explaining phase two "Murray, you wait at the window outside of Mrs. Puffin's office and use your muscles to open the heavy window for Carmelita to make her escape with the cookie jar."
Murray nodded while showing his muscles "I'm pumped up!"
Bentley nodded as he then showed the fourth paper, telling of phase three "If all goes as planned, you guys will meet up with me behind the orphanage, where I keep the door open for you guys to come back inside."
"But wait, the backdoor is locked with a security code. How are you gonna open the door if it's locked during the night?" Carmelita asked.
Bentley just smirked as he stated "Well… I did some digging, and I have managed to figure out the security code from our dear beloved Miss Sunnyside. Now, once you and Murray are back in, we'll quickly go by every bedroom, one by one, to equally divide the cookies for the children and be back in our rooms before anyone notices. And then afterwards… we'll be having our very own cookie party!"
A little while later…
Mrs. Puffin was checking on some final notes while she was yawning. Unknown to her, Carmelita had sneaked inside her office while the old lady had gone to the restroom and waited patiently for Mrs. Puffin to turn in for the night.
As the old lady stood up from her chair and putted the cookie jar on top of a book shelf, she left the office while turning off the lights and closed the door behind her.
Carmelita carefully came out of the trash bin while mentally saying 'Okay, got to get the jar before time's running out.'
The little fox girl carefully climbed up the shelves, remembering her father's training. As she was very close to take the jar, she nearly let some book dropped, but caught them in time! She carefully put them back, while moving over to the jar slowly. As she took it, she carefully climbed down the same way she got up.
Carmelita, with the cookie jar in her hands, walked over to the window and ticked the secret code word to Murray, who was waiting outside.
The hippo boy had heard the secret number of ticks and checked inside Mrs. Puffin's office, seeing his big sister waiting for him to open it. He nodded as he grabbed the window and used all his inner strength to get it open. It was difficult, as it the window hadn't been opened in years.
"C'mon, Murray! You can do it!" Carmelita quietly encouraged her hippo friend.
After some hard determination, Murray was slowly getting it open "Grrrraaaagh! Yes! I did it!" Murray said with a bright smile, not believing that he had actually did it. Carmelita was proud at her friend and quickly crawled through the open window with the cookie jar.
Murray then closed the window and went together with Carmelita to meet up with Bentley behind the building. Or as Bentley would call it: the rendezvous.
When Bentley saw Murray and Carmelita with the cookie jar, he quickly typed in the security code. What was: 0-0-7. Bentley waited nervous if the code was correct, as he had been thinking that because Miss Sunnyside is a major James Bond fan, that there was an 87% chance that the code was the same as the secret agent code of the character. After some seconds… the light on the security system flashed green, making Bentley smile bright. He opened the door, letting Carmelita and Murray inside before closing it and typed in the same code to activate the security system again.
All three were overwhelmed that they actually held Mrs. Puffin's cookie jar. However, they weren't finished yet when Carmelita stated "Okay, but we're not finished yet. We each take ten cookies to give to the children in their rooms. There are five in each room upstairs. Bentley, you take the four and six year old rooms. Murray, you take the eight and twelve year old rooms. And I… I take the teenage rooms."
Bentley and Murray were a bit surprised that Carmelita volunteered to take the teen rooms "Uh… Carmelita, the teenagers don't care that they are getting a cookie or not." Bentley stated, as the teenagers, ranked from 13 till 17 year old, didn't care at all about some cookies during Christmas.
Carmelita nodded as Bentley had a point, but stated "I know they don't. But they had to endure Mrs. Puffin's cruelty the longest. And they also deserve a treat, just as much as anyone else here in the orphanage."
Bentley and Murray glanced at each other for a moment, but then nodded to their big sister, agreeing with her idea.
Before they went their way to each of the rooms, Carmelita instructed Murray one more thing "Oh, and Murray?" the hippo looked at Carmelita, waiting for what she had to say "I know you really like the cookies and waited for so long to have some, but don't eat them all for yourself, okay?"
Murray nodded "I promise." and all departed to their designated rooms.
A few minutes later…
Carmelita, Bentley and Murray were enjoying themselves as they eat the remaining cookies in their room. The turtle and hippo were overjoyed that they couldn't believe that they had performed the impossible.
Carmelita said, while taking an coconut cookie "I gotta admit to you, Bentley. You. Are. A genius."
Bentley blushed after Carmelita complimented him, but then stated while he took a bite from his chocolate cookie "Oh please, it was all your idea that we should join forces, Carmelita." Carmelita shrugged while giving a smile.
That was what got Carmelita thinking. She had been thinking about her future and wanted to continue the thieving business of the Fox clan. And now seeing how well it all went after their first heist, Carmelita asked her two best friends "How about we do this for a living?"
That earned some raised eyes from both Bentley and Murray "Just think about it guys," Carmelita stated "If we practice our skills up more, we'll be unstoppable!"
"Becoming… thieves?" Murray asked.
"Who only steal from other thieves." Carmelita corrected.
That did created some interest for the turtle and the hippo. If it was only stealing from other thieves and helping people in the process, than this IS something they could do for a living.
That was when Bentley asked "Then… what should we call our group?"
All three thought for a moment, while Murray kept eating more cookies from the cookie jar "What about… The Three Robin Hoods?" Murray suggested with his mouth full of cookies.
But that made Carmelita and Bentley shook their heads "Nah."
"Or… the Fox Three?" Bentley suggested.
However, that was when Carmelita got an idea for a name for their group "Wait wait wait! I got it!" The turtle and hippo waited for what Carmelita suggested. She gave a mischievous smile as she spoke "The Fox Gang."
Bentley liked that idea "Hey, yeah! That's a perfect name. The Fox Gang."
Murray nodded after swallowing the cookies he ate "I like that name too." but then he burped loud after he finished his twelfth cookie, making Carmelita and Bentley laugh.
Carmelita, Bentley and Murray then gathered around in a circle, holding their right hands together, while Carmelita spoke "From this day forward, us, the Fox Gang are now a group of thieves, that only steal from other thieves and help those in need. But most importantly, we are more than just a group, we are a family and we stick together, no matter what."
Bentley and Murray both nodded, keeping this sacred oath of being honorable thieves.
The Fox Gang was born.
Mrs. Puffin had never figured out who had stolen her own cookie jar, since she couldn't point out the guilty ones, as she had noticed the next morning, that every single orphan had cookie crumbs all over their mouths. And yes, even the teenage orphans. Carmelita had noticed that the teenage orphans did appreciate that after all this time they finally had a Christmas cookie, what earned herself a smile.
As the years passed, the Fox Gang had been improving in their 'thieving' skills.
Carmelita had been training herself more while taking acrobatic lessons, self-defense lessons and even trained herself using her family's cane.
Murray kept pushing himself with his brawl technics as he took boxing and wrestling lessons.
And Bentley? He was starting to use his brilliant mind for more than just learning and planning, as he was improving in the arts of mechanics and even computer hacking.
However, even though their skills were getting better, they felt themselves 'stuck' by staying at the orphanage. So, when seven years had passed since their very first heist, the Fox Gang had made the final decision; that they're gonna run away from the orphanage and start a new life.
But where to start it, was difficult for them to decide. So, they just took a gamble and all decided where to start their new lives as thieves: Paris.
As they all were preparing themselves for the big day, Bentley had been able to confiscate a few fake passports, as the airport wouldn't allow a few unauthorized teenagers to step on an airplane. When Bentley showed Carmelita and Murray their new 'fake' passports, both were impressed how well they were made.
"Wow, Bent. These are well made. How did you even get these and manage to get them so quickly?" Carmelita said as she was impressed but wandered how Bentley was able to get these passports and so quickly. Murray also wandered it himself.
Bentley smiled as he opened his newly purchased laptop, opened a strange webpage and showed it to his fellow gang members "Big sister, big guy. Behold ThiefNet!"
"What is TheifNet, Bentley?" Murray asked, after he and Carmelita took a look at the webpage.
"It is a website, hidden in the darkest corners of the internet, that fellow thieves use it to sell their stolen loot for money, and it also has a chat room to keep in touch with other fellow thieves for either doing some jobs for them, get more information or for just private messages. That's how I got those perfectly made passports so quickly, thanks to this dark web website." Bentley stated what ThiefNet is for, while also opening the chatroom and explaining that he got the passports thanks to this secret website.
Carmelita saw that Bentley had still a chat open with another ThiefNet user and asked her foster-brother with a raised eyebrow "Who is 'Air_Heart_Babe'?"
Bentley turned bright red from blushing as he quickly closed the chatroom "Oh! U-u-uh… that is just… another 'thief' that I met online. Hahahaha!" Bentley finished while nervously laughing, but his face was now red as a tomato.
Carmelita shook her head while smiling at her turtle friend, while Murray chuckled at Bentley's embarrassment.
Three months later, Paris, Interpol headquarters…
An 18 year old male raccoon, wearing a yellow shirt, blue jacket and a blue hat, walked inside the large building of Interpol headquarters. He was greeted by a female hound receptionist who then escorted him to the office of the Director of Interpol: Inspector Barkley.
While the middle-aged male badger was writing some reports, he heard a knock on his office door "Come in." he answered.
The door opened, revealing the hound receptionist and the male raccoon "Inspector Barkley? Constable Sly Cooper has arrived. I was told to bring him to your office?"
Barkley smiled as he raised himself from his chair "Ah yes! Thank you Sophie, I'll take it from here." the receptionist nodded and left Barkley's office.
The raccoon, Sly Cooper gave a salute to Inspector Barkley "Inspector Barkley, sir!"
The badger inspector chuckled while he raised his hands "Please, please, son. This is the police, not the military."
Sly nodded while Barkley took Sly's file from his desk and said to his new chief "I got to say, Inspector Barkley, I am honored that you gave me this opportunity to work in the Investigative Services Division of Interpol."
Barkley nodded while checking his file "I'm sure you are, your file too shows some great potential in you. Studying at the top of your class at Sleuth Academy and graduating from the New York Police Academy, scoring excellent marks."
Sly nodded as he stated "I just want to show the best of myself."
Barkley chuckled as he closed Sly's file and puts it back on his desk "To be honest, Sly, we need people like you in the force, now more than ever. In the past few years, crime has only increased around the globe…" Barkley explained with a worried look on his face.
Sly then ensured his new superior "That's why I'm here, chief, to bring all these criminals to justice."
Sly's enthusiasm earned a smile on Barkley's face "I like your style, son. Although, since you're only a constable now, I will partner you with one of our inspectors."
That Barkley was about to team up Sly with a partner, gave a bit of disappointment in the raccoon, as he preferred to work alone. But if this is the first step to work solo, he'll have to adjust himself "No problem, chief."
"Good. Sophie will show you around and introduce you to your partner." Barkley said before he shook Sly's hand "Welcome to Interpol, Sly Cooper."
The next morning, Sly stood next to his partner, a black panther named Troy Gomez with dozens of other Interpol officers while Inspector Barkley made a short briefing of the inspectors assignments. Sly's partner was handed over a police file, telling about their new target: Zoey Schwartz, a female zebra from Germany, who's being suspected of leading a burglary operation across France. Her latest whereabouts were in the outskirts at the northside of Paris.
While Sly and his partner read the file, Barkley made one final announcement "Everyone! There is one more thing for you all to keep an eye out." he called as his assistant handled over to each inspector three papers of three runaway teenagers "Keep a look out for these three 15 year old teenagers. A Fox named Carmelita Fox. A hippo who goes by the name, Murray and a turtle who goes by the name, Bentley. Ran away from the United States three months ago, using fake passports. Our intel have confirmed they had landed on Paris International Airport around that same time."
All the other officers nodded as Barkley finished and told "As a final note, always protect yourselves and watch each others backs."
A few hours later, northside of Paris…
Sly and his partner were scouting the area around an abandoned warehous. Both him and Troy had noticed some strange people walking in and out of the building, carrying lots of what appeared to be stolen goods.
"Looks like you were right, partner." Troy said to Sly while looking through his binoculars to the rats, packing in boxes with stolen goods "Lots of stolen items, all stored in one place."
Sly nodded as he loaded up his new shock pistol "Then let's go in and bring their operation to an end."
However, Troy held his hand on his shoulder and said "Easy, Sly. We don't know how many more are inside and we don't know if Zoey Schwartz is there too. And also, we need evidence and cannot enter the building without a warrant." Sly signed, that they needed evidence first before busting in.
For the rest of the day, till nightfall, both Sly and Troy were making some pictures of the rats, working for the zebra. And also make some pictures of their target, making a deal on selling the stolen goods to a buyer.
Knowing that they now had enough evidence to bring these thugs to justice, they were given permission from HQ to enter the building. Both Sly and Troy loaded their shock pistols and headed to the warehouse.
They stood quietly in front of the main door, as Troy counted before busting in "On my mark. 1… 2…-" but then they heard a lot of commotion inside.
"Hey, YOU!" they heard before they heard some fighting "COME BACK HERE YOU BITCH- OW!" Some more fighting were heard inside.
Knowing that Sly and Troy had to act fast, Sly kicked the door in "POLICE! HANDS IN THE AIR!" Sly screamed to everyone in the building, but upon realizing that everyone was knocked out unconscious, including Zoey Schwartz, Sly looked surprised.
Troy was just as surprised as his partner "What the?! Someone has been here before us." Troy stated.
While the black panther called for backup using his phone, Sly suddenly saw a golden necklace fall on the ground before him. He looked up, seeing a vixen climbing through the roof window, with a large bag over her shoulders "HEY! STOP RIGHT THERE!" Sly called as he ran towards the roof window. Troy tried to keep up with him, but Sly was faster.
The female fox ran and jumped from roof to roof, while Sly bursts out of the window and aimed his shock pistol at the fleeing thief "FREEZE!" He shot several rounds, but the fox seemed to avoid the blasts easily using her acrobatic moves. Sly pursuits her.
"STOP, CRIMINAL!" Sly kept calling while shooting shock blasts multiple times, but every time missed its target.
But then, the vixen couldn't run any further, as there were no more roofs in front of her to jump over to, only the streets, 5 stores down below. She kept looking for a way out of this, but then Sly appeared, with his shock pistol aiming at her "Hands in the air!" The fox girl sighed while doing as she was told and held her hands in the air, while still holding the bag of stolen goods in her left hand and her cane in the other.
She turned herself, glancing at Sly. Though the fox girl was wearing a black eye mask, it didn't fooled the raccoon, as he instantly recognized her face from the picture of the runaway vixen: Carmelita Fox. She was wearing a whole different outfit then the one showed in the picture. Her outfit consists of a black midriff-baring top that zips on the front, a choker with an brownish-orange symbol, black pants, black gloves, black combat boots and was now wearing a golden hoop piercing on the top of her left ear.
For a moment, Sly was enchanted by Carmelita's brown eyes, glittering in the moon light. But he regained his focus after a few seconds and glanced at her seriously while still aiming his shock pistol at her "Well, well, well. A little far away from home aren't you, Carmelita Fox?"
Though Carmelita was a bit surprised that this raccoon cop knew her name, she then formed a smile and asked him in a flirty way "And what's your name, handsome?"
Sly wasn't amused by this 15 year old's attempt to flirt, but answered with a small smile on his face "Constable Sly Cooper, Interpol. And you, young lady, are under arrest."
Carmelita took a step back, close to the edge, trying to look innocent "Aw, come on. A girl's got to find some way to get to eat in this big city, right?"
"You can get some food behind bars. Now, on your knees, slowly." Sly called.
However, Carmelita had other plans. She gave a smirk to Sly and let herself being dropped from the building, shocking Sly!
"HOLY SHIT!" the raccoon ran to the edge, looking down, only to see Carmelita using her cane to ziplined herself down, using a long electric cable.
When she made it nearly down, Carmelita threw the bag up, jumped high while performing several summersaults and landed on the streets, catching the bag with stolen goods with her cane.
Right then, an brown-orange van stopped in front of her, with Murray driving it and Bentley in the passenger seat. With no time to waist, she quickly jumped inside the back of the van while yelling "Punch it, Murray!" Murray quickly punched the gas and drove with high speed away from the scene, leaving an irritated raccoon behind.
An hour later, back at Interpol…
Inspector Troy Gomez and his partner Sly were called to Inspector Barkley's office, explaining what had happened just an hour ago "We already told you, chief. When we were about to burst into Schwartz's burglar operation, she herself and all her associates were all knocked unconscious." Sly explained.
"And you're telling me that this runaway teenager, Carmelita Fox was responsible for that?!" Barkley asked Sly, as he'd stated that he had instantly recognized her from the picture shown by Barkley this morning.
The raccoon nodded "Yes, chief. Then she escaped with a modified van. I saw that the van was controlled by a hippo and that a turtle sat at the passenger seat. I'm sure that those two guys were the other two runaway teenagers and are working together with Carmelita Fox."
Just as Barkley was about to ask some more, a hare police officer entered Barkley's office, handling him over a file "Hey, chief, here are the results of the facial recognition of the unknown individual." Barkley nodded, thanking the officer for bringing the pictures.
As the hare left, Barkley took a look at the results, earning him a surprising look before he turns back to Sly "Well, it seems you were right, Sly." Barkley handed him over two pictures. One, what was part of a videorecording from inside Zoey Schwartz's base of operations and the second one of the missing poster of Carmelita reporting have been run away "The facial recognition shows a 100% match. It is indeed the runaway teenager, Carmelita Fox."
A little while later, after Sly and Troy had left Barkley's office, Troy noticed some worriedness and irritation in his partner's face "You okay, Sly?"
Sly glanced at Troy "Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine."
However, the black panther wasn't so sure "It's because she got away, huh? Don't worry, we'll find that rookie thief in no time."
Sly however shook his head "She was no rookie at all, Troy! I'm telling you, she's going to be a lot of trouble in the future, if we don't arrest her and her gang members."
While Sly went to his office to write the field report, he took something out of his pocket that the raccoon had found on the unconscious zebra while he arrested her. It was a brown-orange calling card, what almost looked like Carmelita's face. Sly then looked at the back, which said: Greetings from the Fox Gang.
Meanwhile, in the Fox hideout…
Inside an abandoned train car, The Fox Gang were enjoying themselves after their successful heist. While Murray and Carmelita were playing a racing videogame, Bentley was busy on selling all the stolen goods that Carmelita had obtained through the ThiefNet, using his laptop.
As Murray won the game, Carmelita sighed in annoyance with her face looking down, while Murray cheered "Woohoo! Yeah, I got you big sis!"
Carmelita then suddenly laughed while taking another pizza piece "Okay, but next time, I'm getting you!"
"Oh, it's on, Carmelita!" Murray said while taking a whole pizza in a few big bites and then burbs out loud, making Carmelita giggle while she waved with her hand before her face.
The vixen then wandered what the total loot was worth and asked her turtle friend "Well, Bentley? What's the total income this time?"
Bentley had just finished selling the last piece as he stated "Well, with all the diamond, golden and silver necklaces, watches, pens and rings all together, we've made over 3000 dollars!"
"Nice. A new record." Carmelita said while giving a smirk, but then became a bit disappointed "Although, I could have taken a lot more, if those two Interpol cops hadn't shown up."
Bentley scratched his head out of embarrassment "Yeah, sorry about that, big sis. I realized too late that the cops were watching the building before we pulled the heist."
Carmelita shook her head while telling softly "No worries, Bent. Besides, it was fun having a determent cop chasing me around." she then tossed to Bentley a pizza slice, what the turtle caught in his hands "Come on, you haven't eaten anything since we came back."
Bentley nodded and closed his laptop, joining his friends in their videogame while enjoying themselves with over a dozen pizzas that they bought.
Slowly, the Fox Gang's reputation only grew bigger over the years, as they not only pulled heist around France, but also around the globe. And they've always kept their oath; only stealing from other thieves and would always stick together, no matter what.
As for Sly Cooper, his skills grew as well, as his determination brought high criminals to justice, earning him after some years a promotion to the rank of Inspector, giving him the opportunity to finally work solo. However, even while Sly brought in high profile criminals, he was always unable to catch the Fox Gang, making him very irritated that Carmelita Fox always managed to slip through his fingers.
Now, three years after they had arrived in Paris to start their thieving careers, The Fox Gang was about to do something else than stealing jewels or famous artwork from other thieves. Now that Carmelita was sure that she and her foster brothers had learned all the skills they needed, she and her gang were about to go after the people that stole the pages of the Thievius Vulpinus and murdered her parents. But in order to do that, they needed a certain file…
Paris 4:20 am…
Carmelita Fox ran and jumped from roof to roof, till she was on top of Interpol Headquarters. As soon as she took out her binocucom, her ears were disturbed by a loud sound "CARMELITA! COME IN! CARMELITA! DO YOU READ ME?!"
"Yeah. I read you, Bentley. Very loud and… very clear." Carmelita tried to answer calmly, as Bentley was calling her very loud through the binocucom.
Bentley immediately apologized "Sorry, I'm just a little nervous. Trying to break into Interpol Headquarters does that."
Carmelita signed while giving a friendly smile, knowing how nervous her turtle friend can be at this point and ensured him "Relax, Bentley. It's not the first time I've faced difficult challenges. And besides, if we ever going to find the missing pages of the Thievius Vulpinus, I need to steal that file from Inspector Sly Cooper."
That was when Bentley ensured his big sister "Well, count on me to be your eyes and ears when we're about to face those awful people that killed your parents and stole those pages of your family's book."
Then Murray said through the binocucom "And don't forget you've got me at the wheel and has your back, Carmelita. All you gotta do is grab the file and get back to the van. We'll do the rest."
Carmelita felt touched by her foster brothers sweet words, that they'll watch her back, till the end "Thank you, guys. Man… you nearly get me teary right now…" the vixen said as she wiped away a tear from her left eye. But knowing that they all needed to focus, Carmelita shook it off of her to get her head back in the game "Okay, enough talk for now. Where should I go inside?" Carmelita asked.
The turtle then answered "To get inside, you're gonna have to go through that air vent in front of you." Bentley stated while Carmelita looked at the air vent that was close to her.
"Alright, I'm going in."
As soon as Carmelita broke contact, she saw that her only way to reach the air vent, was to get passed by the water tower and use the tv antenna's to jump to it. She ran close to the water tower and walked slowly by the edge and jumped over the tv antenna's.
When she smashed the vent open, using her cane, Carmelita headed inside, making herself into the elevator shaft. However, she saw that a bunch of yellow laser beams were pointed everywhere till down below.
Bentley contacted her through the binocucom "Be extra careful, Carmelita. If you break one of those laser beams, you'll set off the alarms – not to mention you'll be fried to a crisp."
Carmelita checked the beams and noticed some openings through the laser barriers. As she jumped on and off the platforms, avoiding contact with the yellow laser beams and made it down below, using her cane to open the door.
As soon as she entered the emptied hallways, Bentley contacted her "Nice job, big sister. You're in. According to the information I got from hacking into Interpol's security mainframe, Inspector Sly Cooper's office is behind the red door at the other side of the floor."
"Red door at the other side of the floor. Got it." Carmelita said as she looked around for Sly Cooper's office.
It didn't took her long from finding from finding Cooper's office. However, the door seemed to be locked. Luckily for the fox thief, a window was open next to the red door, making it possible for her to walk close to the edge to another open window leading inside Sly Cooper's office.
Once she made it inside, she noticed that a lot of pinboards were filled with pictures of her and her gang members, while performing heists all around the world 'Wow. This raccoon is really obsessed to lock me up behind bars. Hihihihi. Ever since we first met, three years ago, he always makes the job more… fun.' Carmelita mentally thought, as Inspector Sly Cooper always failed to capture her and her gang across the world, giving Carmelita Fox more fun on the job.
While she checked the desks for any files, she figured that all Sly Cooper's files must be stored inside the vault next to his desk.
She contacted Bentley "Bentley, do you have the code of Sly's personal vault?"
"I sure have! Try dialing in 9-3-7."
When Carmelita had dialed in the code, the vault opened, revealing dozens of files. After a minute of searching, Carmelita found her own police file.
With a smile on her face, she contacted Bentley and Murray "Guys. I got the file."
"Nice job, big sister! Come down through the fire escape and head through the parking lot, we'll be waiting for you down there with the van." Murray said, instructing Carmelita where to meet.
Carmelita nodded "I'll be right there, but first," she took out one of her Fox calling cards and placed it in the vault "A little souvenir for Ringtail."
"Yeah… I'm… sure that Inspector Cooper would 'love' the little present." Bentley said in a bit sarcastic way, as he and Murray had a feeling that Carmelita may have developed a little crush on Inspector Sly Cooper over the past three years.
But as Carmelita had just made it to the fire escape, she was suddenly called "STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL!" Carmelita looked at the top of the building, next to Interpol HQ on her left, seeing Inspector Sly Cooper jumping down on top of a sign with his loaded shock pistol.
He glared at the vixen that he's been chasing for three years "Very foolish of you, Carmelita Fox, breaking into Interpol Headquarters!"
Carmelita gave him a flirty smile while she leaned to the wall "Well hello there, ringtail. I haven't seen you since I gave you the slip in Bombay." the vixen stated.
Sly however was not amused and seriously said "Which reminds me – you need to return the Fire Stone of India to its rightful owners."
That was when Carmelita narrowed her eyes, as Sly still didn't see the clear picture after last time "If you mean by 'rightful owners' the guys that stole the Fire Stone of India before in New Delhi? No thanks."
That was when Sly shook his head "It doesn't matter, Carmelita Fox. You're a thief that deserves to go to jail. Maybe my shock pistol might snap you out of your crime spree."
Carmelita then looked at him with a fake sad face "Aw… and give up our little rendezvous?"
Sly now had enough if this game "I grow tired of this. Hands in the air!" Sly called while aiming his shock pistol on her.
Carmelita sighed just before Sly shot his first shot, making Carmelita a run for it and quickly went down the fire escape, while Sly kept shooting his shock blasts, nearly destroying the fire escape! When Carmelita made it to the parking lot, Sly kept shooting at her, but missed thanks to her acrobatic moves and only shot the police cars, destroying some of them in the process!
That was when the Fox van raced into the parking lot and drifted close to a bunch of police cars, before coming to a stand still close to Carmelita! Bentley opened the backdoor quickly and called to his big sister "Get in, Carmelita! Let's get out of here!" Carmelita quickly got inside the van, making Murray to punch the gas and raced out of the Interpol parking lot, while Sly kept shooting his shocking blasts at them!
As the Fox Gang made their escape, Sly called in near fury at them while raising his fist "YOU CAN'T ESCAPE ME FOREVER, FOX! ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'LL GET YOU AND YOUR GANG!"
Carmelita looked back at Sly through one of the side mirrors of the van, vowing to one day arrest her and her two gang members. She smiled while saying to herself "(Sigh) He's actually very handsome when he gets angry."
That was when Bentley cleared his throat "Uhm… we're right here, Carmelita."
Embarrassed, Carmelita glanced at her foster brothers, while she blushed "Oh! Sorry, I was thinking out loud." Murray chuckled of his big sister being embarrassed, while Bentley rolled his eyes, but also tried to suppress a smile.
Then the hippo asked "So, you got the file?"
Carmelita nodded while showing her police file "You bet." Then she returned on looking at it, while she became a bit more serious, as the pain from her past has never fully healed "Finally, the secret police file I'd been searching for. With this, I can avenge my family and regain possession of our most valued treasure." The memories of her parents and her unborn baby sister, being killed by these four men and women in cold blood, still fresh in her mind made the vixen deep down angry.
Bentley patted her shoulder and Murray as well "Don't you worry, big sister. We'll be there for you." Bentley stated.
Murray nodded while saying "Together, we'll show those guys never to mess with the Fox Gang!"
Carmelita smiled bright at her foster brothers, knowing that she'll always have their backs, giving them all a big hug.
Carmelita Fox knew that she was bout to face the toughest test of her life. For on this mission, she would either become a master thief like her ancestors before her, or fail and allow her family name to bite the dust 'Don't you worry, mom, dad and baby sister, you will all be avenged and the Thievius Vulpinus will be restored to it's original state. I promise, I won't fail you…' Carmelita stated in her mind, vowing to her family that she won't fail them.
A/N: This is it you guys, the first chapter of my very first Sly Cooper fanfic! (Or should I say, Carmelita Fox fanfic. LOL).
You may already know that Penelope's chat name is 'Air_Heart_Babe', I just wanted to give her a cameo appearance in the story, to make it like Bentley has already been chatting with her for some time ;)
I also hope you guys like the changing I made with the canon part, that 'the Fox Gang' decided to run away from the orphanage and how Carmelita and Sly met.
So, like and review and I'll see you guys soon in the next part, where Carmelita is about to face the first member of the Fiendish Five, Sir Raleigh the Frog.