Chapter 8: Puss in boots

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Sly fell off the tower platform and screamed. All of the boars in the courtyard looked up at the screaming raccoon in confusion and horror.

*SPLOOSH!* Sly hit the water and slowed as he writhed around, struggling to scream. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and realized what had happened. He had fallen into the well at the centre of the courtyard. Sly looked around and saw his cane slowly floating down into darkness. He swam down to grab it, then up to the surface of the water. He breathed in heavily and coughed a little as he did a doggy paddle to stay on the surface of the water. Sly looked up to see at least ten metres of stone to climb out of and a lot of confused faces looking down at him. Cooper shook his head and ignored them, placing his hands and feet on the sides of the well to begin a slow ascent. After a short climb, Sly dragged his drenched body out of the well and stood in the courtyard as numerous henchmen took a step back from him, working their small brains to try and work out just what had happened. Meanwhile, the thief shook himself down and began making his way towards the wooden gate. This time, he made no effort to sneak. Sly simply walked down the streets, doing his best to ignore the eyes that were locked on him. As he rounded the corner, things became unusual. The boars acted the same as before, yet they could not have possibly seen the commotion, could they? So why were they not alerted by Sly's presence? The boars simply made way for Sly to walk forward. As the crowd parted, things became clear. The raccoon stopped in his tracks and clutched his cane. Before him were two lines of boar henchmen on either side of the road and four by the gate, split equally by the hulking mass between them.

"I thought I smelled a rodent." Ruppi crossed his arms.

"Raccoons are mammals." Sly replied. Ruppi simply stared back at him. Honestly, Sly was worried. He'd fought guys larger than himself, but those were only mindless goons with as much kick as a little girl with a pillow. This guy was a building in his own right. He certainly towered over the master thief.

"You don't belong here, kiddo. Why don't you run along home?" Ruppi relaxed his arms and brought them to his side as the boars laughed and slowly inched their way towards Sly.

"I came here for Puss in boots." Sly tried to make a threatening stance, but it looked pathetic compared to Ruppi.

"Of course you did…" Ruppi didn't look at all surprised. "You don't look like a pig though…"

"I'm a Raccoon!"

"Yeah, I was talking about cops." Ruppi looked menacingly at Sly. "… So I guess you must be here to steal something."

"No, I'm here to talk to Puss in boots. That's all. I just want some information."

"Stealing information is still stealing. Our knowledge is none of your business. Besides, it doesn't matter what your reason is for coming. You're not getting into the arena." He switched his relaxed stance for one more prepared for a fight. The henchmen also readied themselves.

'Damn it.' Sly took his cane into both hands and looked around himself. The situation was pretty bad. 'Looks like I'll have to make a run for it. There's no way, I'll be able to fight all of these goons, never mind the leopard.' He dragged a foot back and prepared to make his escape.

"Huh?" Ruppi relaxed his stance again and put a finger to his ear. Sly relaxed a little too as he tried to make sense of what was happening. The boars seemed to be just as confused as he was, no less. "Chris, I don't think… Seriously? He looked back at Cooper, which made the Raccoon nervous.

'Are they… talking about me?'

"Fine… If you say so. But I'm gonna stick here just in case." He loosened himself up and sighed. "Looks like you're okay to go in."

"What?" Sly returned his cane to one hand and lowered it.

"Didn't you hear me?! I said you can go in!" He stepped aside, leaving a clear path to the gates. It took a while before Sly could grasp the way things had gone and began moving towards the gate. "Just don't cause any trouble."

"Right." Sly said, trying not to make contact with Ruppi's menacing glare. The Leopard opened up the massive gates and Sly made his way through. After entering the darkened arena, the gate slammed shut, causing Sly to look behind him before returning to his scanning of the area. The arena was surrounded by brick walls and ruins. The entire back was just one big ruin. It may have been a tower, but it was far too wide. Perhaps it was a more important area of the fort. Sly turned his gaze to the stage that sat before and was connected to right side of the back ruins. It was much more dimly lit than before. Sly squinted as he tried to make out something on the stage. As he moved closer, it became clear that this was the silhouette of a cat wearing leather boots. "I don't suppose you're the cat known as puss in boots?" He asked as he came to a halt in front of the stage. There was a distance of about twelve metres between him and the stage. The shadowy figure looked down at the Raccoon and brandished his sword. He looked at his rapier affectionately before turning his gaze back towards his 'guest'. The cat stepped to a specific two beat rhythm. Stepping every two beats and twirling his sword around every single beat.

"Yes, I am the one they call… Puss in boots." Sly was startled by the sound of Chris' voice. It was almost as if he… "But you can call me…" The sword wielding cat jumped down from the stage and the light shone across the figure, creating a sort of heavenly glow. The blade pointed at Sly and the free hand raised in the air, the cat said… "Christina." Christina spoke in a heavy Spanish accent, yet there was something soothing about her voice. Her eyes widened with excitement and anticipation as she waited for the master thief to react to her grand entrance.

"You're… a girl?" Sly seemed a little dazed. Of all the things that could have shocked him, he never expected this to be such a surprise.

"Mierda! How dare you!" The cat screeched. As sly looked her over, the image he once had of the profound duellist began to fade away. Christina was a black and white cat with a thin layer of fur that seemed slightly unkempt in places and slicked back in others. Her eyes were wide and focused, yet her focus seemed to be on something other than duelling. She was hardly the swashbuckling sword user that he had expected. For some reason, he also imagined her (or him in Sly's imagination) having a Spanish looking hat with a giant feather sticking out of it. The only things that were the way he expected are the leather boots and the sword. Maybe he's just watched to many TV shows. He sighed. "That is what you notice about me! Do you know how hard I worked on this entrance! It was hard getting the beat right!" She eyed Sly, who was busy trying to sort his head out. "Are you even listening to me, Niño?" Christina glared angrily at Sly." Sly looked back at her plainly.

"Yeah, I hear you. Honestly, I'm not that interested in your entrance. I just came here looking for…"

"And you found me!" Christina finished his sentence for him. "Are you not dazzled by my magnificence?"

"Listen lady… it's been a long day for all of us. I'm just here because I needed to get some information on a guy named Dante. Chris dropped her arms and relaxed. She frowned at Sly.

"Oh…" She said plainly. Sly could feel a pain rising in his chest. The woman looked like she was about to cry. However, she turned her head away from him and snarled. "I don't see why you'd be interested in that idiot. He's such a moron." The pain in Sly's chest disappeared. He was now filled with relief. Cooper was suddenly overcome with excitement. He had no idea why. Perhaps it was the fact that his interest was now piqued with the overwhelming relief that Christina really did know of this 'Dante' character, or perhaps it was his interest in a new discovery that may lead him onto another adventure. After his short-lived imprisonment, he had almost forgotten how fun it was to do these things. He had mistaken the Grey fox's tasks for burdens, yet now he had newfound vigour in his heart. Either way, he began to blurt out words like he had some form of verbal diarrhoea.

"So you do know him then? Blue hawk. White vest. Black trousers. Kinda grumpy looking."

"Yeah. That's him." She looked back on him, refusing to turn her head in his direction. Crossing her arms she sighed. "Why?" Sly grinned.

"Well, I want to find him. Anyway, you know where he's at right. I really, really need to know where he is."

"I'm not telling you anything. You have offended me gravely already. I have no reason to tell you anything."

"Come on!" Exclaimed Sly, smiling. "I'm sure we could work something out. Maybe I could take you out on a date or something?" He didn't mean this seriously of course. He had just taken to flirting out of habit. Regardless, he continued to speak before thinking, refusing to regret whatever came out of that word hole of his.

"What?!" Chris turned to look at Sly this time. "I-I would never date a man who has no concept of magnificence."

"Oh, hey. I know. Maybe I could watch one of your shows!" Sly lied. "I'm sure you're a brilliant actor."

"A brillia-" Christina paused, blushing a little. "Well I guess you have some taste after all. But that doesn't mean that I will simply give you that kind of information. Dante is a fool who I hate with a passion, but it is my duty to keep him and my other comrades safe."

"Duty?" Sly laughed a little. "Come on. Haven't you ever thought of breaking the rules a little?" He asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Chris tried to look away from Sly, but failed to do so. She was beginning to fall for his charms already. "I… wha-" She blustered and shook her head. "Why do you even want to find Dante anyway?"

"He shot me." Sly blurted out. Christina paused for a second, taking in what Sly had just told her.

"I see." She frowned deeply again. "Then if I wish to maintain my pride as a swordsman. I cannot let you leave here alive." She pointed her rapier at him."

"Hey, watch where you point that thing!" Sly back off a little. What are you getting so worked up ov-…" He suddenly realized his stupidity and clasped his mouth. 'Smooth Sly. Smooth. That's right; tell her all about how her superiors want you dead. I'm sure she's all for that Romeo and Juliet stuff. No way she'll turn on you.'

"Had I realized you were the enemy, I would have cut you down where you stood." Her frown turned into a glare as she came to realize what she had not the time to realize before. "And how dare you try to… to win me over with your… your words and your charm! I will not fall for such things! You disrespect me Niño!"

'This isn't good.' Sly thought to himself. 'I'll never be able to get her to answer my questions at this rate. It doesn't matter what I do. Her mouth is shut like a clam.' He considered his options carefully before speaking. 'Maybe…" "How about we have a competition?" Sly suggested.

"A competition? Like a fencing tournament?"

"No. Like a dance off." Sly smiled. He was good at fencing, but no master. His best bet was to beat Christina at her own game (one that she was apparently terrible at). She wished to be a dancer? He would show her how to really move!

"Dancing?" Chris lowered her sword a little. "Yes. I suppose that would be fitting for our situation." She sheathed her weapon. "As my honour as a vessel of magnificence, I cannot back down from such a challenge." She jumped back onto the stage and threw her weapon to the back. Looking up at the ruins she spread her arms out as colourful lights beamed onto and outwards from the stage. Eventually the entire arena was lit up like a Christmas tree and the henchmen that were once hidden in shadows began to crowd into the arena, using coliseum like steps as seating arrangements. A song began to play. It sounded Spanish and had a very fast beat to it. Sly looked down and noticed that he was no longer on the stone, mud and grass of the rest of the arena but was standing on a lit up platform that was attached to the front of the stage. Christina tapped her foot and span around to look down at her opponent. The crowds roared as the boot wearing cat basked in the lighting and ambiance.

The chapter is finished. I had completed it and the following chapter a while back but never got the chance to upload them.