Hey everyone,
New chapter and this thing is just PUMPING! I know I shouldn't say things like that as it usually makes me get a writer's block for some reason, but I just can't help but absolutely LOVE how well this story is going, something I wasn't even certain of would happen when I first started writing this a little over a week ago.
Anyway, I just want to let you all know that, after their training finishes and before they head for the Vault, the Fox family will discover what it's like for a thief to have enemies. However, I'm also planning to change concepts there a little as the whole 'Enemies are after Sly because he's of Cooper Blood' is a little over done.
I mean, seriously! The Claww gang was after Sly's family because Clockwerk hated the Cooper line since Slytunkhamen, the Claww Gang were after the Clockwerk parts and the revival of the same Cooper Rival, Dr. M. hated Sly because of his bad relationship with Sly's father and Le Paradox because his father got framed by Sly's.
It constantly comes down to how the Cooper line is responsible – whether directly or indirectly, knowingly or not – for Sly getting all these weird idiots on his tail and I decided to change things up. My enemy in A Letter to Change it All will have the same kind of grudge as Dr. M. but here things will be different.
Hope you enjoy,
Venquine1990
PS. Credits for this story's existence go to Kitty Petro
Carmelita's POV
The last three days have been kind of dull and boring as my family and I mostly just reconcile after years of barely seeing each other and we sometimes help Bentley plan for the Heist on the Cooper Vault, yet not once in three days do we see Sly other than when either Murray or Bentley brings him a plate of food to eat.
On the first day that Sly had been down there, had Murray opened the hatch to let in some dinner along with a blanket and pillow to sleep on and while Sly had thanked him, had I worried that sleeping in some kind of dark hole filled with only treasure and gold just couldn't be good for my beloved or his limbs.
Murray had agreed to this and had actually lifted Sly's chair into the hole, telling us how Sly sometimes fell asleep on it after an exhausting heist and how the recliner function had been upgraded by Bentley to make the entire chair be bend down like a bed, making me feel a little more relieved for my sweet Raccoon.
Still, the fact that I haven't seen his face, his brown eyes or any other part of his features is starting to get at me as I had not expected to be separated from him like this while living in his own hideout and the only other exciting thing that happened over the last few days was how Murray helped all of us move our important possessions here.
The van had actually been big enough for all of our boxes and luggage bags to fit into the back of the van without compromising any space for us to sit at and while this had amazed me, as we had actually emptied out most of the four houses where my brother, sister, parents and I lived at, yet it had also relieved me.
Murray himself had also proven his strength by helping my family and me carry the heavier packages, such as the ones holding onto personal treasures – my mother had been very adamant on taking home her entire collection of amber brown antique statues as she called them family heirlooms – yet he had also been very gentle with each box.
By now, all of our rooms are almost living proof of how well our old lives at our old homes have mixed with our new lives here as we have treasures and pieces of decorations hanging all over our rooms that used to be hung, stood up or against walls of our previous homes, yet they match our room interiors brilliantly.
This alone makes me wish all the more that Sly could come out of his cove as I want for him to see this evidence that we belong here more and more with each passing hour and while I sigh on the fourth day of waiting for our leader, does Murray carefully flick through some of the channels on the TV while seated beside me.
Bentley had decided to do some working on what he called the Hazard Room and mum and dad had decided to spend some quality time together, while Helena and Cheren had actually taken it upon themselves to see if they had any artistic talents as well with the Guru helping them over in the Podium Room.
He then sets the TV on a nature documentary on wildlife in the South of Africa and while I feel as if this is some kind of instinctual thing for the African Hippo, do I not complain and just watch, feeling amazed at what I see of how Murray could live if he were to ever give into the animalistic needs of his own genetic instincts.
However, just when the TV turns to a set of Hippo's that seem to be fighting each other over something, do I again hear wood hitting wood and look up, my eyes widening and my heart starting to beat rapidly in happiness as I again see that lovable face of my darling coon sticking out of the cove he has been in and asks:
"Hey there, gorgeous. Murray, big guy, care to lend a hand?" The Hippo seems as happy to see his leader as I am and says: "Sure, Sly." Running over and helping his friend out of the cove before I see how the Raccoon holds a long rope in one hand and he turns back to the cove as he says: "Help me pull this up, will you?"
Murray nods and together do the both of them pull on the rope, causing for a deep dark red blanket that seems wrapped around several items to be lifted out of the cove, Sly setting the whole thing down on the floor before nodding at Murray, who stomps the floor and makes the cove door disappear for yet another time.
He then turns to me and I smile, my heart beating in pure delight at finally seeing my beloved Raccoon back where he belongs, but then suddenly Sly stops smiling, turns his face down and sniffs his own armpit, letting out a yelp of shock and saying: "Wooh, working like that makes a guy sweat more than he would like.
Call the rest and give me five, okay Murray. This Raccoon needs a shower." And while both of us laugh at how easygoing Sly sounds as he says this, does it take me and the Hippo only two minutes to gather my siblings, parents, Bentley and Guru back in the living room, Murray carrying the package over to the coffee table.
We then all sit to wait and I feel glad that Murray left the TV on as it poses a good distraction against the excitement that is clearly in the air, all of us wondering what our canes will be like and more than once do I either feel my own eyes switching between the TV screen and the sack on the table or see the others do the same.
Then Sly comes back in, a new shirt on his body and a towel around his neck of which he uses one part to dry a bit of the fur on his head as he says: "Much better. Next time I decide to make a cane, I'm doing it somewhere near a body of water. This Raccoon here never wants to smell like that again, thank you very much."
And while I have no doubt that the body of water won't be all that deep as I know just fine that Sly can't swim, do I smile nonetheless, especially at how easygoing and relaxed Sly sounds, as if he's totally unaware of how anxious we all are to see the results of his long days of work and Cheren seems to voice this as he asks:
"Can we see the canes now?" But then Sly shocks us and asks: "You mean you haven't even opened the package yet?" I shake my head and Sly shakes his with his eyes turned upwards as he says: "Guys, you're master thieves now. Peaking at things that catch your interest should be second nature. How else will you ever find hidden treasures?"
This makes even Bentley and Murray turn red as they must realize that their leader is right and he smiles, before asking: "Murray, would it be too much to ask for my chair back?" But the Hippo is instantly on his feet, stomps the floor and dives into the cove, coming up minutes later with the large and heavy looking chair.
Sly then helps his friend lift it out and Bentley helps along with the mechanical arms attached to his wheelchair and when the chair and Murray have left the Cove, does Murray close it again before moving the chair back to its earlier position, Sly happily pulling on my waist as he seats us both back in its comforting hold.
He then looks around, Murray having retaking his earlier seat and asks: "So, who wants to open our little package?" But when we all look at him pointedly, does he laugh hard and say: "Fine, fine, have it your way." Before he moves over and undoes the few knots tying the fabric together making it all fall over the entire table.
We look at what Sly made and my eyes widen greatly as I see twelve canes lying on the table, four sets of similar looking canes and four other individual looking canes, while not even a single one of them – other than the sets – look the same and all of them are obviously made of different sets of wood and gems.
Sly then first grabs a single one of them, one that actually has some kind of chain of metal rings wrapped around the dark black wood and has a hook that is completely made of the strongest metal I have ever seen, while a small iron black button is made at the bottom and he hands it over – to little surprise – to Bentley.
The turtle takes the cane in shock and Sly says: "Aim for the wall and press the button." Bentley, who still looks at the small cane, that is just a few inches longer than his upper arm, nods and does as said, a gasp eliciting through the room as the hook part of the cane actually shoots out of the cane itself and then hurriedly retreats.
"Long distance, but effective. And I made a small hole in the end of the hook where you can install your sleep darts or bombs so that you can shoot them off to guards who are patrolling around or get in your way of reaching your destination. Wasn't easy, but I knew this would work best the minute I started taking measurements."
Sly says with a happy look on his face and the longer he speaks the more the shock on Bentley's face gets replaced by glee and he says: "Sly – I – this – this cane is – AMAZING!" He shouts in the end and Sly laughs as he says: "Hey, never let it be said that I don't pay attention when you explain your technowizz stuff, little buddy."
He then grabs another Cane, this one made of almost beach white wood and that is looking as thick and heavy as an actual tree and everyone smiles in happiness as he lifts this over to Murray and says: "Kind of thought of doing something similar to Slaigh MacCooper. His picture in the Raccoonus really inspired me here, buddy."
Murray himself has tears in his eyes as he handles the cane, switching in around and letting it twirl in the air between his big hands as if it's nothing more than a small twig before he says: "Sly, this – this is so awesome." Sly smiles at his friend and then says: "I'm sorry, but I need to break a certain promise here."
Everyone looks shocked as he says: "I couldn't find the kind of wood that Guru's walking stick is made off. Apparently Jean Bison never cut any of those kind of trees so I had to do some improvisation." Now Guru looks a little downhearted, but Sly keeps his happy smile on his face as he continues and says:
"Luckily enough, have I been around Guru enough the last few weeks to know what it feels like when he's using his magic to control someone or to hide himself from sight and I used my instincts on that and found a kind of wood I think will sample and guide the magic of Guru's moonstone even better than his current one does."
The koala looks shocked at hearing this and Sly moves over to grab a small cane that is almost as long as the Guru himself and made of a pinkish white kind of wood, the hook at the end shaped to hold the Moonstone just perfectly and gems that look as if they have been shaped into leaves connecting each other around the hook.
The koala then takes the moonstone off his old cane and places it into his new one, the gems on the new cane actually making it so that the stone fits even better and the coloring of the gems and the moonstone matching to a sense of perfection that makes me wonder why Sly never became a jewel collector instead of a thief.
Yet while Sly shows his pride at seeing how well the stone fits into the new cane, does he then reach for the smallest set of canes I have ever seen, a pair that are made of apparently two different kinds of wood, the two woods merged together in a swirling motion till the part where the cane reaches the hook, which is made of a darker shade.
He smiles at the canes and says: "These two cost me a lot of samples as I needed a lot of work making them just the right size. I'm sure we'll be needing to clear the cove out sometime soon, but I also know that I am very proud of how thick I made them as they're actually filled with parts of amber on the inside to give them a little power."
Everyone looks shocked and then I see how the bottom part of the canes is actually hollowed out, the gleam of amber showing as Sly tilts the canes a little and then – to everyone's shock – hands them to my mother and says: "If this won't help you surprise your enemies and give them a good one-over, you can call me a reptile."
Everyone laughs at the humor and my mum happily takes the canes, her hands fitting around the wood itself like no tomorrow and while she actually spins one of them with an ease that makes it look as if she's done this for years, does the amazement on her face as she does this prove that she is as shocked at her own ability as the rest of us.
Only Sly doesn't seem shocked as he instead just nods in pride and moves back to the heap of canes, grabbing two that are made of the same darkish wood as his own and that – for some reason – have an extra layer of wood covering their bottom parts, while the bottom itself doesn't look as if the canes can be set down properly.
He takes both canes in one hand, the bottom parts facing each other and then turns his hands slightly in opposite directions before linking the canes together, moving his hands back and allowing us all to hear a soft click, making me realize that he just made one cane out of two before he unclicks them again with a mirroring motion.
He then hands the canes to my dad as he says: "For both speedy operations, a good way to get up high with speed and agility and the ability to defend yourself. You can use these however you like, but I think when running, you should have them separated as I designed them to give you an easier chance to change direction while running."
My dad looks shocked at hearing this and takes the canes, looking at them both and asking: "Can – can I try?" Sly shrugs at this and says: "Live yourself out. I think the hallway is a good training place. Head for the back part and then run over, before you try and run in here. I think having the canes in hand will help there the most."
My dad nods and Sly gets proven right as my dad flawlessly spins into the room during his run, only using one hand to twist the cane in his left a little and with that – as if the motion is like the muscles in his feet – making the turn with flawless effort, the amazement in his eyes making me feel delightfully proud for my dad.
"It worked. That – that was one thing I always had so much trouble with. I – I always had to slow down on my speed if I were to be running on roads that had a lot of twists or turns and busy crowds always. This will help so much when running through the crowds, I – I don't believe this." My dad then ends his little rant of shock.
Sly smiles and then turns a little thoughtful as he says: "I designed this one with a sense as if what I was designing was for more purposes than I actually knew at the time, yet – I think it will really help a lot. Oh, and I also used another Ancestor of mine to inspire me in this here little creation." Everyone looks intrigued and Sly reaches out.
He grabs a – to my shock – fully metal made cane that has a really large guard wrapped around the hilt and that has only a hilt and the center part of the cane itself made out of wood, while – were it not for the hook at the end – the cane could have easily been mistaken for a sword instead and Sly looks at it before handing it to Cheren.
My brother looks shocked and asks: "Are you sure?" Sly nods and says: "Your stance really reminded me of Sir Galleth Cooper and he had a cane of his own that resembled a sword. I think the wide guard that I made will really help you, while the long reach of the cane will make it easier for you to use your ability through your weapon."
At this Cheren takes the cane with excitement and jumps up, taking the stance again and when he does, do I see why Sly means as Cheren's cane actually reaches all way to the wrist of his extended arm, the crooked tip of the weapon and open hand proving that my brother can both fight back and defend himself very well.
Sly seems highly proud to see my brother using his creation like this and then grabs a pair of canes that are almost as long as my own upper arms, but to my shock does he hand them to Helena instead, the girl taking her new weapons and looking from one to the other as Sly says: "It's all about how you held yourself in that stance.
These canes might be feather light, with how swift they should be able to make you move you can learn to rely on the muscles in your arms and you can switch them between hands if you feel like it, like when you have the tips around the wrists of two crooks and you decide to let them give each other some love, so to say."
This makes everyone laugh and I have no doubt that Sly means pulling two people to smash their heads together, which I know is something Helena did a lot to those that bullied either me or Cheren when we were still little as back then she was always the one looking out for us, Cheren taking over this role when we turned teenagers.
I then look back at the last set of canes lying on the table, a set that had actually been kept down at the bottom of the pile and of which I had slowly started to see more and more as the other canes were handed out and the sight that befalls me when I see their full glory takes my breath away and makes my eyes widen tremendously.
Two canes made of almost the exact same wood as Sly's own, but then with dark red gems encrusting the entire thing, the gems sticking out from the inside at various points in perfect patterns and actually making handles to affirm one's grip on the cane, while the hook part is made of solid gold with a single small ruby serving as the tip.
All in all the canes look like they could cost a good fortune, have great power just lying where they are and almost draw me in, making me reach for them on nothing but my own instinct and when I take a grip of the first, do I feel as if I am actually holding my old shock-pistol, the wood feeling feather light and smooth as silk.
I take both canes in my hands, their length almost as long as my entire arm, yet when I hold them under my arms, does the tip end a few inches under my arm pits, making it so easy for me to carry them, I finally understand all of the measurements Sly had taken before he started working on all of our canes.
I move the canes back from where they are holstered under my arms over to where I can take another proper look at them, the splendor of how they look and the ease with how I can hold onto them amazing me as even my pistol had never felt this good in my hand, yet only then do I notice how someone's looking at me.
Looking up, do I feel slightly embarrassed to notice Sly looking at me, that goofy smirk on his face filled with clear pride as he leans against the side of the couch Murray is seated on with his arms crossed over his chest and with assurance and pride in his voice, does he say: "I knew it. The minute I started making them, I knew it."
This makes me blush slightly, amazed at how confident Sly sounds as he speaks and he says: "I just knew that making canes that would prove you and I are a team would work the best for you. And those gems? They're pieces from the Fire Stone of India, the one I stole before getting that file you had on me and the Fiendish Five."
This shocks me even more and I open my hand, my eyes examining the actual gems while Sly turns to his friends and asks: "That's okay with you, right guys? The gems just felt right and I think they will make working with the canes that much easier for my sweet little vixen." Making me blush while the gang members nod in understanding.
Sly then moves himself off of the couch and says: "Now that we all have our new weaponry, everyone ready for the first lesson of Master Thieving?" And instantly are Cheren, Helena and I on our feet, part of me still feeling amazed at how easily I can maneuver the canes around in my hands, yet the rest of me feeling nothing but excitement.
Sly smiles and leads us over to the hallway, pulling a part of the staircase up and revealing another one that actually leads down, shocking my family as he leads us into the basement and over to a room that has metal made walls and only a single door, but with a whole lot of handles on the left wall that all have a red light shining above them.
Bentley then moves over to stand next to Sly and says: "I adapted the handles, Sly, and now they are in perfect harmony with the control room upstairs, while the room above this one now has even more storage room for all kinds of equipment you might feel we need to use during the training of our newest recruits."
Sly nods with his hands in his sides and a proud smile on his face as he says: "Let's start of small, with a little presentation. Give me your best challenging course, Bentley and then prepare a single cable to run through the entire room when I'm done." Bentley nods and leaves the room for another one I suddenly notice above me.
Sly then turns to the rest of us, his back turned to how the ceiling opens and several crates, platforms, wires, wires with spires, a few rails, a long cable high above, and an electrical fence all come from the ceiling, setting themselves up for a crash course route unlike any I have ever seen before and making me feel a slight bit afraid.
Sly then distracts me from this and says: "Okay, lesson #1. Your cane is like your arm. You have your abilities and your cane is nothing more than an extended part of yourself through which you make use of whatever ability you have within your heart. If you trust your cane like you trust in yourself, there is nothing you will have to fear. Now watch."
And while his words amaze, inspire and comfort me from deep within my own heart, do I then want to scream as suddenly Sly jumps back, his back still turned to the dangerous course, only for his arm to reach for his own cane and for the tip to instantly hook itself onto the long cable hanging above everything else.
My eyes widen at how easily Sly made that move, as if he already knew that the wire was stretched over a large field of electricity and while feeling like I should be used to seeing him like this, do I still feel amazed at how easily Sly moves across part of the wire before suddenly unhooking the cane and leaping for one of the spires.
Here he twists and flips in the air before landing on the spire with perfect precision, something I have seen him do many times before, but still amazes me due to how natural it seemed to come to him and Sly does this a few more times before jumping for one of the wires that don't have a spire, landing on it as smoothly as he did the spire.
He runs over it, his feet barely even touching the wire itself before moving on and while his speed amazes me, does he then jump and hook his cane into one of the crates, setting his feet against the crate, pulling back and then releasing his grip as he launches up and lands on top of the crate effortlessly.
Finally does Sly jump down to one of the platform that the wires and wires with spires are attached to before jumping down from this, his cane in his hand the entire time and he flips the things expertly, throwing it up and then giving it a backward kick before catching it with his other hand, all the while just looking at us and smiling.
"See what I mean?" He then asks and while I feel as if my mouth should have fallen to the floor by now, do I feel my heart beating in excitement and a bit of relief when Sly signs for Bentley who then makes it so that everything of the previous course moves back into the ceiling, bar the long cable that is still high above our heads.
Sly then continues and says: "When it matters most, when you have to move to the top of your ability and speed, that is when you should feel you can rely on your cane as if it were a muscle in your arm or leg or even a part of your brain or heart. A Cooper cane is always made specifically for one person and through that can be used to perfection."
At this we all nod and Sly motions for the cable and says: "Good, now get sliding." Making all of us smile. Mum is then the first to take action, running at the cable and jumping, yet her jump isn't high enough and she barely reaches out to the cable with one of her own canes, landing back on the floor and looking disappointed.
Sly however, doesn't seem to feel the same and says: "Bentley, lower that thing. You know my jumps are way higher than those of the others. That's my level, pall, not theirs." And just by the easy tone of his voice, do I see the shame disappearing off my mum's face, making me smile as Bentley makes the cable descend a few meters.
My mum then tries again, yet when she hooks on, do I see her whole arm trembling and she slides only a meter or two before releasing the hook from the cable, this time sighing in frustration and asking: "Sly, what did I do wrong?" Making my beloved look at my mother while softly grabbing his chin with one hand.
Sly hums and then randomly asks: "You play cards by any chance?" My mum looks shocked and Cheren even asks: "Say what?" But Sly focuses on mum and she nods as he says: "Try holding your canes as if your hands are the bottom side and your canes are the top sides of a diamond. Make sure to hook on with both canes, though."
Mum nods and makes another jump, this time reaching the cable with both canes, her hands stretched to the sides and her canes meeting each other over the cable and to her amazement does the hold she now have make her slide steadily faster as the cable tilts down just enough for her to easily gain speed as she goes.
Mum unhooks near the end and smiles widely, while Sly nods his head in understanding pride and says: "Double canes are usually needed to be used as if they are one, especially when used as tools for sliding and climbing. I should have explained that before we started." But mum shakes her head and says: "That was so amazing."
Sly smiles at her, the happiness I see shining in his eyes over the fact that we are learning to use our canes making my heart beat about twenty miles a minute and then Cheren says: "Let's see if I can do it like you did, Sly. Seeing I'm a one cane kind of guy." Sly laughs at this little joke, but then nods and focuses on my brother.
Cheren makes the jump, yet he doesn't even reach the full meter my mother did before he unhooks and lands on his hands and feet, worrying me as the unhooking was obviously not done intentionally and he curses softly and asks: "Any idea what I did wrong?" But Sly shakes his head and says: "Maybe reposition your grip."
Cheren nods, but after three more attempts where he changes the position of how he holds his cane, does he still only make it a meter down the cable before falling on hands and knees and at the third time does he curse in Spanish and loudly before he asks: "What am I doing wrong here?" Breathing in anger and exhaustion.
Yet while looking between my brother and his mentor does it seem as if Sly has had an epiphany as he mutters: "Oh so that's why I made that guard so wide." Cheren looks at his mentor and Sly asks: "How good are you in making a backflip?" And instantly do I feel as if he just solved the problem like he did with mum as Cheren says:
"The best in the family." Making Sly smile before he says: "Okay, this one will not be easy, which is strange as that was the whole purpose of this exercise." We all laugh and Sly says: "But it will also prove how much you trust your cane." Cheren nods, while we now all feel intrigued with Sly's plan and he says:
"For you to do a perfect slide down a rail, Cheren, will you need to be able to throw up your cane and then run ahead and make a backflip. One that will make it so you can hook your legs around the wide guard of your cane as your crouching position proves how well you can link your legs together and the guard is exactly the right size for that."
Instantly the whole explanation makes sense, yet Cheren still looks shocked and asks: "I need to throw, run and jump?" Sly nods and Cheren gulps nervously, looking from his mentor to his cane and then to the cable above his head before he gulps again, breaths out in trepidation and stands up from where he had fallen.
Doing as his mentor told him does he start to run, throwing the cane with a flexibility that astounds me before he crouches down and just when the cane's tip hooks onto the cable, does he make a backflip, his legs slightly sloppily twisting themselves around the guard and then finding balance as Cheren slides down effortlessly.
A large smile grows on the face of my brother as he gains speed and while – nearing the end – do I feel scared that he will crash against the wall, does my brother amaze me as he somehow makes a twist in midair, guiding the cane to unleash itself from the cable and while he unhooks his legs does he finish the backflip and lands.
Then, to all of our amusement, does the cane land on his head with a loud clunk and while some of us cringe and others snicker, does Sly shrug and say: "That was great – till the end, that is. Just make sure you always have your arms out and ready to catch your cane when you release it from your grasp, no matter what the reason."
Cheren nods and Helena moves forward, making me send a quick look my dad's way as I don't feel like being last a second time. My dad smiles and nods at me, indicating his understanding of my desire and then Helena asks: "My canes aren't exactly like my mum's. Care for a quick tip before I start, Cooper Leader?"
And while I can only roll my eyes at the joking tone my sister uses, does Sly joke back: "Not until I've seen you in action with your canes, I can't." And while my sister pouts at being topped in her smartness, does she still accept the order and does she run for the cable, her jump high enough she easily reaches it.
She hooks on, yet only reaches the first meter of the cable before she unhooks and asks: "Both canes, perhaps?" But Sly seems to have already seen the problem and shakes his head as he says: "I want to say yes – and no." His voice mysterious and contemplative at the end as he gazes at my sister with a strong intent glowing in his eyes.
Helena looks shocked and confused at hearing this and asks: "Care to verify?" But Sly hums, the sound of his voice both making shivers of delight run down my spine and being a clear sign that he's not quite figured his own words out himself and Helena shrugs as she says: "You don't know what you haven't tried."
She then jumps for the cable again, hooking both canes onto the cable, yet this makes her whole form suddenly turn unstable and she lets out several sounds of alarm before unhooking her canes and stopping the slide, grunting as she lands and says: "Not quite it either, I guess." To which Sly replies: "Not quite – but close. Yes, close."
Wondering what it is that my leader and partner is seeing that the rest of us are not, do we all look at him, the way he stands there with his tail up straight, his whole form proving how serious he is taking this and his left hand holding onto his right elbow while his right hand is around his chin defining him as a leader of greatness.
Sly's forefinger rubs over the fur of his chin as he looks from my sister to the cable and back and then he asks: "When performing certain tasks, are you more the kind of girl to use one hand, both or who likes switching regardless of the activity?" This instantly makes me wonder what he could have figured out and Helena answers:
"The last one, actually. I'm ambidextrous, you see?" Sly nods and smiles, his hands lowering themselves as he says: "Then there you have the answer. When sliding down the cable, you need to move as if you're changing from one activity to the next or as if you are performing it several times in different methods."
My sister looks shocked and dad whispers: "Canes really are powers all of their own, aren't they Ninita?" To which I happily nod, understanding with each of my family members why Canes have been part of the Cooper history for this long and while Sly's smile widens shortly as indication that he heard us, does he keep his focus.
He motions for Helena and my sister nods, her chocolate brown eyes sharp with determination and shining in happiness as she understands the hint given to her by our teacher and this time, as she takes another jump and hooks on with one hand, does she instantly switch to the other the minute we start to see her swaying dangerously.
The switch makes her regain balance and Sly smiles proudly as she slides down the entire cable before, when she lands, he turns back to Bentley and says: "I think we still need to practice a little with her. See where she will need to switch canes when sliding. Try another cable that has some more turns in it, will you Bentley?"
And while my sister has her face light up in excited intrigue, does Bentley make the cable disappear and a new one, that kind of resembles a rollercoaster track appear in its place. Helena looks shocked at first, but then the excitement returns to her face and she happily makes her jump, the way she switches canes at a turn looking just marvelous.
Everyone smiles widely as Helena swirls down the cable, the way she moves from one cane to the other actually becoming to look more fluid with each and every turn she makes and when she takes the last turn before reaching Sly, does she actually unhook her cane during the turn, twisting in midair around her own axis before landing.
Sly smiles widely at seeing this and says: "Someone who can rely on their own form as well as their cane is ready for some real life training." Making my sister glow in happiness before I step forward and jokingly say: "Let's see if all those years of chasing you have paid off." Making both my sister and partner smile lovingly at me.
Bentley then returns the original cable and I take a deep breath, holding one cane in each hand and twisting them a little in my palms to make sure I have a firm and steady grip on them, the feeling of the wood to my skin actually somehow increasing my self-confidence as I run and jump at the cable, hooking my cane to it as I jump.
Twisting my fingers just a little to steady my grip, do I feel strange as something about the way I am holding myself while sliding feels off and I unhook my cane again, landing back on my feet and taking another close look at the cane in my hand, wondering if perhaps I had the wrong grip after all, before suddenly Helena asks:
"Carmelita, what's wrong? You were doing great. You got further than any of us on the first try." To this I look back and see that I actually slid down the cable a good 4 meters before I say: "I – I don't know. I was sliding down and twisted my grip a little, but – but sliding like that – I – it just – I don't understand, but – it felt – off."
And while part of me is screaming not to say this as it reminds me of what Sly told me about his thought process while making my canes, can I not help but soften up the truth a little and still speak it and to my relief does Sly not seem hurt at all as, instead of that, he just tilts his head like he did at Urmilla's a few days ago.
This again makes my heart melt at how adorably handsome he looks and Helena shrugs as she says: "Maybe you were using the wrong hand." I nod and take another jump, again sliding down a few meters without realizing this until I land as the same strange uncomfortable feeling overwhelms me while I slide.
I then shake my head and say: "It's not which hand I use. Maybe – maybe I'm holding my canes wrong." Yet a couple of jumps later, am I forced to shake my head again as I had held my canes in several ways and methods, even using both mum's and Helena's, yet none of them made that strange feeling disappear.
I sigh, suddenly wondering if Sly had really made the right decision when he made these canes and while I really don't want to doubt a man that has such talent with a weapon of this kind, do I feel almost obligated to ask him if he could change the design of my canes and do I walk over, my heart feeling like lead as I do.
Sly picks up on this and asks: "Are you okay, my gorgeous?" But I shake my head and say: "Sly, I – I'm sorry, but – but I – I think you chose the wrong design when you made my canes." The Raccoon looks shocked and I say: "Don't get me wrong, I love what you did for me, but – but sliding down like I did – it feels wrong."
The Ringtail looks concerned and worried, his eyes proving how badly he wants to help me and he asks: "And what if you're not sliding? How do they feel then?" But I shake my head and mutter: "As if they're meant for me to have." Making a relieved smile appear on his face as he says: "Then it's not the wrong design, amore."
He then takes my chin in his hand like he did with his own while studying my family and their progress as he says: "Remember, every cane is unique. There are barely ever two canes that are identical and every cane can be used different. You're not your sister or your brother, you are you and your cane has your style.
This is just the first time that you're using it and we need to find your style." And while part of me wonders what that style could be, do I smile nonetheless and friendly ask him: "Thanks Sly, could you show me your style again, please?" Only for Sly's eyes to widen as I ask him and he mutters: "Wait – could that be it?"
I tilt my head at him and he says: "Follow my lead to the T." I nod and Sly starts running for the cable, me only two steps behind him and taking the jump at the same time he does. He hooks his own cane to the cable and lets his hand slide down all the way to the bottom part, me doing the same as I hook my cane only half a meter behind his.
We start sliding and while watching my leader as he moves his entire form in such a way, his cane actually swirls from side to side over the long straight end cable, do I follow his lead, my hand moving my wrist which moves my arm which in turn moves the rest of my body and the cane in my hand itself as I do.
And while I do this, do I feel like stiffening in shock as a feeling of righteous exhilaration goes through me, pumping through my blood and making my whole body tingle with pleasure and happiness, causing for a huge smile of pure enjoyment to stretch across my face and making me want to shout out in joy.
Sly then lands on the other side of the cable and I happily follow his lead, keeping to his instructions and following his movement to the T, actually causing for me to land much softer than I normally would when jumping down from a height such as the cable we just slid from and Sly turns back to me, a large smile on his face as well.
"I knew I didn't make the wrong design." He then says and while I can barely believe that the Raccoon before me and I share the same technique in cane handling, do I ask: "But – but I thought you said –." Only for a gentle smile to replace the exhilarated one as Sly says: "I said that canes are unique, styles can be the same."
This shocks me and Sly smiles as he says: "Carmelita, how else do you think that my ancestors developed so many techniques. Where do you think Tennessee got his Rope walking ability from, other than the Ninja Spiral Jump created by Riochi? And Galleth's Catapult Crash technique comes from observing Slaigh MacCooper's strength."
At this I can't help but nod and Sly smiles as he says: "There are hundreds of abilities and techniques in my family ancestral manual that are identical to each other and that helped me develop the hardest of them all. That you and I share some techniques when it comes to the more basic handling of a cane isn't all that surprising, you know."
This makes me smile widely and then dad asks: "Care if I give a little plan of mine a shot for this technique, Sly?" The Ringtail nods, his eyes still on me and the gaze he sends me showing me he wants to make certain I feel confident in my abilities, something that warms my heart as I see the strength behind this desire aimed at me.
I then turn to my dad and the man locks the two canes together, grabbing a firm hold of the left one before moving its hook upward to his face and running and jumping for the cable. He hooks on and instantly moves himself so that his foot is hooked into the hook of his other cane, causing for him to have a stable grip.
All of our eyes widen and to our sheer delight, does dad slide down the entire cable effortlessly, landing beside us and unlocking his canes before smiling at my partner and saying: "These things are just downright amazing." To which Sly nods and says: "And so is your technique. Clever of you to think of using them together like that."
Dad smiles and then Sly says: "Okay, one more little test and then we'll call it a day for now. We can start anew tomorrow." Everyone nods and Sly leads us all back to where we were standing earlier before turning his face up to where the control room is located and shouting: "Hey Bentley, grapple exercise #2, please."
And Bentley makes the cable disappear into the ceiling before he allows for a gigantic platform that covers the entire room from one side to the other, bar the small part where we are standing and that has a huge wall in the very center to land behind Sly, the wall itself only having a few small hooks installed into the metal.
"A good thief needs barely anything in his surroundings to get up top as the roofs are a thief's best friend. Your canes might all be different, but all of them have a hook that is exactly the right size to fit into those hooks you see in the wall. There's also a sliding beam behind me, which you can use once you reach the top."
We all nod and Helena smiles at Cheren before she shouts: "RACE YAH!" Running for the left platform before my older brother can only do little more than shout: "HEY!" Making all of us laugh as he runs for the other side, both of them instantly attaching their hooks into those in the wall and trying to get up higher.
Trying proving to be the keyword as, while Helena seems having trouble reaching one of the wall hooks with one of her canes after the other, does Cheren seem incapable all together to reach any higher than he currently is and Sly says: "Remember how I got up. Pull yourself back and then let your muscles move you upwards."
The elder fox looks shocked and then nods, pulling back on his cane before launching himself up the wall, his cane instantly hooking itself onto one a few meters higher and while Helena now uses this technique while continuing to switch between canes, is Cheren still the one to reach the top first, making all of us smile in pride.
Mum and dad then take for the wall next and while I love seeing them work together like that, do I move myself closer to my beloved Raccoon and ask: "Guess some techniques are best use for entire gangs, huh?" And Sly smiles at me, the pride and love that shows on his face taking my breath away as he says:
"All canes are developed to create new techniques and to continue the growth of education that befalls a born Cooper. However, in some situations, it's just better to rely on techniques that have already existed. It's not wrong to try and develop new ones or improve old ones, as long as you remember when to use what."
And while my heart pumps like crazy at hearing how wise and strong my beloved sounds, while he is actually three years younger than me, do I feel my whole body tingling at how happy and proud he sounds as he says all this and then suddenly, do I feel his arm snaking itself around my waist before Sly turns to face me.
All the pride and happiness disappear from his face as he does and both get replaced by such a powerful and deep-growing sense of love and commitment, I feel as if I am actually gazing into the eyes of my soul mate and while this feeling makes me lightheaded with bliss, does Sly huskily continue and say:
"I knew it, Carmelita. I felt it the day I met you. I felt as if my family finally had a chance to continue what all thought had ended when my father was killed. I felt it then and I knew it when you destroyed Clock-La's hate chip. When you did that, did I know. Did I know that you were the one I was meant to continue my family line with."
And just by the strength of his voice and the sincerity I can see shining in his eyes, do I realize that the Raccoon is telling the honest truth, something that fills me with a warmth of happiness and love unlike any I have ever felt before and while the thought of having Sly's child makes me blush, does the Raccoon pull me close and whisper:
"I love it, Carmelita. I love it when you prove me right about the incredible, gorgeous person that you are. When you prove to the world with your strength, your heart, your determination, your loyalty and your devotion who Carmelita Montoya Fox truly is. That is when I feel as if the love in my heart actually increases in strength."
At this I sigh and lie my head on his shoulder, loving the way Sly encases me with his arms and how I can almost feel the love radiating from every hair on his furred body and while mum and dad climb the wall and then slide down the pole together, do I not feel like moving a single inch, feeling too content with where I am.
But then Mum lies a hand on my shoulder and says: "Your turn, cariño." And while part of me wants to grunt and tell her to leave me be, do I feel Sly letting me go, the pride and happiness that was on his face earlier having returned as he softly takes my chin in his hand and whispers: "Do me proud, ladro del mio cuore."
But then I take another glance into his eyes and my own widen as I can almost hear a silent promise coming from that gaze, one that tells me I will be back in his arms before I know it, one that whispers at me how badly he wants to continue holding me and I quickly steel my reserves and rush for the large platform and climbing wall.
I take a double jump once reaching it, twisting mid jump while having one of my feet on the platform and launching myself straight for one of the wall hooks higher up the middle of the wall, my left hand reaching out and causing for my cane to clasp itself into the hook on the wall before I bend myself in the direction of another.
Tensing all of my muscles as I pull as far away from the hook my cane is hooked onto and the direction in which I want to go, do I allow for my tense hold to release, causing for me to jump over to the next hook, which I grab onto with my right cane, repeating the process from before and reaching the top before even realizing it.
This missed realization makes me almost lose balance at the end and I move out of instinct, crossing my canes in such a way the hooks attach themselves to the side of the wall opposite of which hand I am holding them into while my legs bend down and my upper body tenses in the need to keep a firm hold on my weapons.
Shocked that the first thing I did was relying on my canes to keep me safe, do I feel a rush of excitement and pride boil through me and when I feel confident that I have my balance back, do I jump up, land on my own two feet and rush for the sliding pole that leads me back to my family and my beloved.
While running do I feel my hands twitching to use my canes once more and while feeling as if every action I take makes me grow closer and closer to the one I love, do I trust in the instincts I feel growing within me and reaching out to my hands, making me jump and twist in mid air just when I reach the sliding pole.
I land with both my feet against the sliding pole and with one of my arms reached out to the pole, my cane hooked around it and while in this stance, do I slide down, amazed as this angle actually allows me to look around and view my surroundings much better than before while also making me feel agile enough to dodge anything.
I land on the ground and the first thing I see is the largest, proudest grin I have ever seen on the face of my beloved Raccoon, the Ringtail's face actually looking as if his face is just too small for the wide smile that adorns it and the way his eyes shine like the purest of amber making me feel as if his pride warms me from the inside.
Then, before I know it, has the Ringtail rushed at me, his arms around my waist and his lips upon my own as he devours my entire form with his happiness and pride, his arms like a steel cage around me and his mouth ravishing my own, making me wish we weren't in such a public area as I can feel my need to be near him grow immensely.
"La mia splendida volpe. C'è qualche possibilità che si potrebbe essere più perfetta? Le vostre reazioni così naturale! Il vostro movimento in modo istintuale. Tutto di ciò che sei è solo così assolutamente, incredibilmente stupendo." Sly then mutters, the pride he has in his heart actually making his revert back to his native tongue.
And yet I understand his every word and the way he speaks of my talents and instincts makes me feel warm and tingly all over my form, making me feel as if his words warm me up from the inside, make me want to purr out loud and prove to him just how much I love hearing him say such incredible things about me.
I then hear Bentley's nasal voice sound through the room as he says: "I think we can cut it here for today, Sly. The team was great and I think if I work just a little more I can make some exercises that can be accommodated to Murray, the Guru and myself." Which shocks me with the realization that they didn't even try anything today.
Sly nods, still not letting go of me and he says: "Fine with me, Bentley. You do what you do best and then –." And before I know it am I again in Sly's arms, his amber brown eyes smoldering with a searing love that almost feels as if it burns me from the inside as he says: "I will do what I do best; loving my gorgeous girlfriend."
And like he said at dinner last night, does it feel downright incredible to hear him call me his girlfriend, almost making me feel as I am back in college and making me feel like some silly little schoolgirl that just wants to giggle over the thoughts of her first crush, something I don't attempt to as it would just look silly.
Instead of that do I allow for Sly to carry me out of the room, Bentley, Murray and Guru remaining inside and the rest of my family following behind their leader, who happily turns his face their way as he says: "That was a really good first training, guys. Keep this up and we might be heading for the Vault in less than a month or two."
Which in turn makes my siblings share an amazingly excited look before I notice something that I find both a little odd and highly intriguing; as we walk away from the Hazard Room where we just trained, does my sister Helena attempt to sneak a quick, unsuspicious peek over her shoulder, at where the room closes on Murray's back.
Looking at my sister while trying to make it look as if I am just enjoying the presence of my beloved Ringtail so close to me, something that actually makes it a little hard for me to focus on anything else, do I feel a small, sneaky smile grow on my face as I recognize the look in my sister's eyes; the look of budding romance.
What the heck?
Twelve pages! TWELVE! This story just doesn't know how to have short chapters! I usually try to keep my chapters to five to seven pages and this thing could consider itself lucky if it got around ten! I don't know how, but this story could be one of my longest yet – not topping Preventing Trouble, of course.
Anyway, wow, Helena is starting to fall for Murray just like her sister is falling for Sly. I always loved a pairing like that and I recently began experimenting with it – at least ever since I decided on the idea of giving Carmelita some siblings, which was around the time of The Cooper Gang and Story Plans.
Now the romance between Helena and Murray will be a slow one, not as slow as Sly and Carmelita in Cannon where it took three games and some fake-amnesia to get those two together, but they won't be starting to date within say a fortnight either. For now both will just focus on their training and through that grow closer.
Hope you enjoy,
Venquine1990
Translations:
Cariño is Spanish for Sweetie
ladro del mio cuore is Italian for Thief of my Heart
la mia splendida volpe. c'è qualche possibilità che si potrebbe essere più perfetta? Le vostre reazioni così naturale! Il vostro movimento in modo istintuale. Tutto di ciò che sei è solo così assolutamente, incredibilmente stupendo. Is Italian for My beautiful fox. Is there any chance that you could be more perfect? Your reactions so natural! Your movement so instinctual. All of who you are is just so absolutely, unbelievably amazing.
