Whoo! Operation: Hippo Drop is here! I'm so excited. This chapter has been tweaked a bit because I did a little rush job before.

Disclaimer: Yep. Still don't own Sly.

Chapter 11: Operation: Hippo Drop

Murray tightened his leathery gloves, Sly grabbed his tuxedo, and Bentley was getting his custom explosives and RC Chopper. Great tension and excitement held the room's breath. As Faye took one last look at the room, she reapplied the costume's makeup. She kneeled over a puddle of water in the corner that supplied her with a makeshift mirror.

"I think you might want this." Faye turned to see Sly holding out her cat mask. She took it and ran it over her fingers. It was a flexible rubber with whiskers that fitted over her skin perfectly. It felt like a baby's gentle skin but was just the right thickness so no one could tell it was false.

"Thank you," she said and put it over her face. You couldn't tell that she had put on any kind of makeup or that she was human for that fact. In just a few moments of makeup application, she looked like a cat again. She then walked up to Bentley and said,

"Say Bentley?" He looked up from his RC Chopper. "What's my role in this?"

"Well I wasn't sure if you'd be up in time for the plan so I didn't set one up," he said nasally.

"Can I go to the ballroom? The more help with the main distraction, the better."

"Well I suppose you could…" With that a huge grin spread over Faye's face. Faye picked up Bentley in a hug, set him down, and grabbed her dress hanging off a chair. While running out the entrance to the cave Faye called back,

"Thanks Bentley!" Faye sped up as she did a speedy Ninja-Spire Jump over the rocks on the left side of the drawbridge. Sly was right behind her and was barely able to keep up with the teenager's adrenaline rush. Sly reached out to grab Faye's tail but it was flailing about so much, he couldn't grasp it. So he grabbed her costume's back just as they got to the island upriver. Faye stopped and turned around as she felt a tug on her back.

"Faye," he huffed, "You left before Bentley could give you this." Sly held out his left fist and opened it to reveal an earphone. It was small, black, and hooked over an ear by the looks of it. "Now you can communicate with us," he said as he adjusted the electronic device on Faye's ear. He moved some hair over the gadget and smirked.

"I guess after the waterfall incident, it would be good if you knew where I was," she said touching the earpiece. Sly led Faye up to the palace and to the front door. Sly put a finger to his ear.

"Bentley's about to start on the bridge," he said to Faye. She nodded as they casually strolled up to the main doors and Sly knocked.

Inside the ballroom, Faye and Sly waited on the stairs in their formal wear for Bentley to finish his job.

"So…how's this going to work again?" Faye asked her raccoon friend.

"The direct feed from the boardroom will allow Bentley to control the electronic winch from the van. All we have to do is get back to the van before Murray and we'll be set," he answered back.

"Right," Faye just left it at that. She gazed at the Clockwerk Wings and a brief shiver traveled throughout her body. It was like Faye's presence alone made the Wings vibrate with a strange energy. An energy unknown to anyone. Sly patted Faye on the back and made her arch her shoulders.

"It's almost time. Do what you have to," he said. Faye nodded and faded into the crowd of faceless people.

"Excuse me," Faye turned towards the sound of the voice. A golden retriever stood before her in a black, elegant tuxedo. Faye's eyes slightly bulged.

"Rexus!"

"I look different without the street look, huh?"

"I, I'll say. What are you doing here?"

"I was invited by Rajan."

'Not as straightforward as I wanted.'

"Are you the entertainment or just a guest?"

"A guest. And what about you? What's been going on?"

"This and that. Having a blast with a few acquaintances." Tango music began before Faye could ask anything more. "I'm sorry Rexus. I have to find someone."

"All right. See ya!" Rexus waved goodbye to Faye and left her to her business. When he was out of sight, Faye made her way through the crowd.

"Where is she?" she asked herself quietly. A bright flash caught her attention. "Neyla…" Sly and Carmelita were talking briefly as the song was barely a quarter over.

"You look familiar to me, are you in law enforcement?" Carmelita asked her dance partner.

"I often deal with police while on the job," Sly answered the Inspector. While they chatted, Faye was just beginning her hunt. She was now back at the stairs and had found her target. She walked nonchalantly up to Neyla.

"Constable Neyla. I see you're enjoying the dance." Neyla held a camera in her left hand, away from Faye.

"Hello. You were with Sly Cooper awhile back weren't you?" Neyla asked her.

"Yes I was," Faye kept her anger down. "I know who you are, Neyla. I know what you're scheming. I won't let you become one with the frame of the Cooper family's archrival." Faye's voice was quiet yet stern.

"Then you had better know how to catch up," she whispered maliciously. Neyla's eyes narrowed as her claws were drawn.

"My pleasure," a smirk appeared on Faye's face. Neyla walked up the stairs while Faye followed. Neyla then power-walked and broke into a sprint. They ran up several flights of stairs blurred by soft lights before they reached the roof. It was a flat entrance to the roof where as soon as your head stuck out you could see most of the palace pinnacle. Neyla got there first and whipped at Faye as she got to the top.

"Whoa!" exclaimed the girl as she backed off. Neyla stood above Faye and allowed her access to the roof. They constantly moved as they circled on the roof, never leaving the other's sight like a fight between tigers or lions.

"Well 'StableKayla', it seems that we get to face-off," said Faye with her cane out defensively.

"Yes 'Destiny'sFate', it seems we are," said Neyla as her whip glowed in the twilight. Faye stole a glance at Neyla's whip then eyed the traitor's face.

"Is that fire or electricity coming from your whip?" she asked her.

"Would you like to find out?" Neyla whipped as Faye leapt back and a burn mark was left where she was just standing.

"I guess it's electricity. If it was fire, it would have set a blaze to everything you whipped." Neyla whipped at Faye again and the other worldly guest held up her staff. The whip swirled around the cane and Faye threw it aside with the whip along side it across the roof. They were now both weaponless. The two adversaries quickly locked paws and glared at each other. They pushed back and forth and growled. Neyla overpowered Faye and pushed her down to the ground. Neyla towered over Faye. Faye pushed her feet against Neyla's stomach, trying to gain the advantage.

'If I don't do something soon, Neyla will overtake me. Then she'll go after Sly, Murray, Bentley, Carmelita, and everyone else.' A tear slid down Faye's cheek. 'I can't lose. I can't let her win. For everyone on this planet; in this world...' Faye's eyes narrowed as she slowly pushed Neyla back. 'I will fight… Neyla will not kill them!' Faye pushed Neyla off balance and they both slashed at each other. Pain came from Faye's chest and Neyla screamed in pain and stumbled away from her while holding her left eye. Faye clutched her chest with her right hand while kneeling and looked down. Three claw marks slanting down from left to right crossed her chest. 'Just like my older self.' Neyla started laughing maniacally as blood dripped from her eye to the ground.

"You're a pitiful excuse for a thief. I saw your 'tail' peering out of the corridor in the underground room and you've left a part of yourself everywhere. The clues you've left: Destiny'sFate on the Internet, always saying 'Don't mess with Faytin,' leaving the initials FTD on Dimitri's printing press and on the owner's head, Destiny as your name in Dimitri's contest. It all leads to your real name Faye T. Destiny." Faye's mouth was open a jar. "Or is it Faye T. Destine?" The teen's eyes widened as she gasped. "It looks like I've hit the mark." Neyla moved her head in her opponent's direction. Faye shook as she got up and reached for her cane. As she reached for it, a small, rectangular item caught her eye. "It's hopeless; give up. You can't help anyone. Not even yourself. I shall rule supreme and the Cooper Gang and Interpol shall fall." Faye put the small item in her pack then untangled the whip from the cane and threw Neyla's weapon aside forcefully. With her conscience unsettled by mental abuse, Faye was on the verge of almost anything. She walked up to Neyla with her cane.

'I can end it now. I can save everyone with one fatal swing.'

"No!" cried a voice. Faye stopped her advancement towards the traitor.

"My older self? But why?" Faye thought.

"You must get to the van now before it's too late," said Older Faye's voice. "Leave Neyla and join your friends. You can't sink to her level. Not like I did." Faye glared at Neyla then turned and jumped off the roof to the veranda to the tree branches in the direction of the getaway van. Neyla got up, grabbed her whip from the ground, and returned down the stairs where Carmelita's screeching voice could be heard. It would seem suspicious if Neyla wasn't there to help arrest the partygoers.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/

Murray was in the driver's seat, Sly was in the passenger seat, and Bentley was in the back with the Clockwerk Tail Feathers, Clockwerk Wings, and RC Chopper. The van doors were open as they looked out.

"Where is she?" asked Murray, foot ready to hit the accelerator.

"Oh no! This shouldn't have happened!" freaked Bentley.

"She'll be here," said Sly. He quietly said, "I hope." Then, tearing around the corner was Faye. She dived into the van and before she barely touched the floor, she yelled,

"Punch it!" The van immediately took off as it swerved away from the palace. Faye placed her cane behind her and a bump sent her flying towards the road behind the van. Faye caught onto the door handles and jerked backwards, shutting the doors. She sat back and rested her hands over her stomach.

"Faye? You're bleeding," Bentley said, freaking like he always did. Faye closed her eyes.

"Yeah. I got in a scrap but I'll be okay. Its just a few scratches," she said. Sly took out a first aid kit as he said,

"Is this why you were late?" Faye nodded,

"Yes. Sorry. I shouldn't have got into a fight."

"At least we got away in time. You should wash up once we get back to the hideout," said Sly, giving Faye the first-aid kit he probably received from a guard.

"All right. I suppose I should." Faye took the kit and opened it. Inside were a first-aid spray, several medicinal herbs, bandages, and a variety of other things. She had not lost a lot of blood, but she was tired so she took the first-aid spray and pointed the nozzle at her wounds, dispersing the liquid in a misty form. She winced in pain as it stung like peroxide, and it probably was. She then took the bandages and wrapped them around her stomach; front and back. Faye, too tired to deal with her injuries properly, along with the fact that she would have to wait until they were someplace safe, soon went to sleep.

/-/-/-/-/-/-/

Journal Entry 2: Weird Stuff is Happening...

This week started out just plain weird. First I see this vision at the hideout with the team in different situations. Murray was alone, Bentley was in a wheelchair, and Sly didn't have his friends with him. Thing is, this isn't the first time this has happened. Not while I've been awake anyway. The first time a vision appeared occurred during the fight against Dimitri. It was after he threw me across the room. I think I might've gone unconscious because what happened next was not reality. A voice called out to me and said, "Wake up! Sly needs you! Wake up, Faye!" I opened my eyes to see Dimitri about to kill Sly. What would've happened if I had not woken up? Never mind. Don't think that. Then it came again during my sleep after Dimitri. It was a silhouette of someone. The person stood over someone else. It comes and goes but every time I get a clearer picture. I'm confident that the person on the ground is Sly Cooper. But why? They're coming faster now and are getting longer. I'm starting to think that these visions are more than what they seem. My favorite one is Sly, Murray, Bentley, and Carmelita all together, not fighting. They were...friends. Yeah. But there's more. At Rajan's palace I fell off the main waterfall near the palace gate and had my life saved by a teak tree. Even weirder was the fact a hidden room and stairwell were nearby. Inside I learned the shocking truth: the Klaww Gang knew how to get me home. The ringleader is none other than Dodo-Head. She wanted to bring me here. And the horrible truth is...I was brought here to, to kill Sly and his friends. My friends. They wanted my knowledge of their weaknesses, their likes; their everything! They wanted to erase my memories and collect the information. But they said something happened. I kept my memories instead of them being erased. I think it has to do with the False Reality my older self told me about. So confusing… The Klaww Gang knows I'm here. I'm a disposable thing to them that can be wiped from existence for all they care. But I did get Dodo-Head good. I think she might be blind in one eye now. Anyway, we stopped in Bollywood and got Murray onto the set of some sort of play. I'm still unsettled though. I'm afraid. I know its going to happen. I have to stop it. I won't betray my friends. I will do what I can to stop Fate's plan. Clockwerk will not be resurrected. But can it be done?

This chapter sorta sucked.

Faye: No it didn't! I got to whip Neyla's butt!

Yeah. But there was so much more I wanted to put! I'll use it all later. Review if you liked it. Any reviews are welcome. Flames will be used to hurt Neyla/Clock-La.