Okay, here it is!
I brainstormed and even slept on it and now – I have a solid plan like the one I wrote about. The problem? I'm not going to write about it yet! I know, I know, the suspense on who this guy is, is killing! I KNOW! But I can't let the Gang be in the Cooper Vault and not let amazing things happen in there, I just can't.
So, Cooper vault action,

Venquine1990

Sly's POV

The events of the last few days seem like a faraway dream or a bad nightmare from long ago. That's how I feel as I wake up to a strangely tropical beam of sunlight flittering against the lids of my eyes and while I try to block out the light from my sight, does the cushion upon which I am lying just feel too good to get up from.
However, to suddenly feel that divine cushion actually move, turn and then for something which I can almost feel by instinct to be attached to the cushion starting to softly pet the fur on the back of my head and cheek makes me both feel a new level of bliss and a high sense of confusion as I can only think one word: "What?"
I blink slowly, the returning stinging of my hand and foot reminding me that the things that happened did indeed happen, but then this pain is driven out of my mind by that same lovely hand that is softly caressing my fur and, upon looking up through bleary eyes, do I actually see the angel of my heart and dreams smile down at me.

Carmelita. Her eyes are strong and wide awake, yet are shining with a deep strong tone of love and devotion as she looks down at me, a smile of actual peace and tranquility on her beautiful face and her fur rustling with a clear sense of delight and adoration as she looks at how her hand passes through the fur on my face and head.
To see this gorgeous vixen look so at peace with how she cares for me makes my heart melt all over again and makes my whole body feel warm with the love I can feel coming from her caress before she asks: "Slept well, my darling?" And just the word my makes the fur on my whole body rustle in sheer loving delight.
I release a deep breath and smile at her, trying to convey with that one smile what her eyes are conveying to me and the way her eyes light up at seeing this makes me feel like I accomplished my goal before she suddenly startles me as she bends herself down to my level and kisses me with loving care on the forehead.
That one single, soft as silk touch makes a shiver of delight run through my fur and then, as if I just switched between my ever-confident self and the persona that Crime Boss created out of me when he defeated me, do I smile up at her and smoothly, but with a yawn escaping me ask: "Will I wake like this every morning, gorgeous?"

Yet Carmelita seems not to care for how I suddenly switched between what she saw of me yesterday and what I am showing her now as she again bends down, lies her forehead against mine and actually astounds me as she softly whispers: "Once we get back to Paris, you can wake up beside me every morning, Sly."
And with those words do I feel a little more of the defeated me disappearing and the old me coming back, while at the same time I just decide to give into instincts that are still deep within me, yet that I have always kept to the back due to the way Carmelita and I actually interacted over the years and how that complicated living up to them.
Now though, with those words, with the sense that I am healing of the trauma that the Crime Boss caused me and with the evidence that I can indeed live up to my instincts shining in Carmelita's eyes, do I feel myself lunging up and forward, shocking Carmelita and making us both fall down to the small piece of land behind her.

Yet while this happens, do I wrap my arms around her slim neck and plant my lips upon hers, stealing a kiss and at the same time letting the gorgeous vixen know how happy I am. Happy to be here with her. Happy to live up to the emotions that are in my heart. Happy with the knowledge that she actually returns said emotions.
Carmelita does tense in shock as we stumble backwards, yet when she feels me kissing her, does she happily wrap her arms around my waist, pulling me closer and tilting her head to the side, allowing for closer contact between our muzzles and for mine to grow a wide, loving smile as I continue to praise her with my lips.

Oxygen becomes a must and when we part, do I happily nuzzle my way from her lips, past her cheek and to her hair, where I give a soft tentative lick to the top of her ear, something that I remember seeing my dad often do to my mum and that Carmelita apparently enjoys as well if the shocked giggle is anything to go by.
I then continue and bury my face in her luscious full cobalt black and blue locks, taking in the scent of her musk – which I noticed is somehow at its strongest in her hair – and reeling in pleasure at smelling the divine scent of baked hazelnuts and molten chocolate before suddenly I get reminded exactly where I am and who I'm with.

This thanks to Bentley clearing his throat and asking: "You two hungry by any chance?" And while I can feel Carmelita's face heating up besides my own, do I just glare at Bentley, who seems anything but ashamed of breaking up this amazing bit of morning fun that I was having as he just raises his eyebrow at me.
To this I want to scurry around for Penelope, hoping she will keep Bentley occupied so I can have some more time with my lovely vixen, but Bentley seems to read my mind as he says: "I send Penelope out to get us some food, Sly, so don't even try. Now here, I got you both some cloths from the van, get dressed, will you?"
I send a glare at the impatient turtle and then remember that I made Carmelita leader of the Gang until I feel fully back to normal. Feeling that I can use this to my advantage, do I suddenly feel shocked when I feel Carmelita move out from under me and to my devastation does she say: "We'll be right there, Bentley, thanks."

The turtle nods and rolls away while I send Carmelita a hurt and wanted look, even going so far as to push my ears back for extra measure, but Carmelita smiles at me and then kisses my lips again before she whispers: "The sooner we get everything done, Sly, the sooner we can enjoy the privacy of my apartment, don't you agree?"
And instantly I feel as if all the scars, wounds and injuries I have sustained a few days ago have vanished, both physically as well as mentally and I jump the Vixen a second time, hugging her just when she pulls off her tank top and whispering: "You, my sexy gorgeous vixen, know exactly how to heal hurt Raccoons like myself."
Making the vixen smile at me before she says: "Get dressed, Ringtail, and give a girl some privacy." Instantly at hearing this do I turn around, grab the garments Bentley stalled out near us and rush for another corner of the cave, feeling much too loyal and devoted to Carmelita to disgrace her rights of privacy while changing.

A few minutes later

The cloths Bentley gave me are actually a set of shirt, hat, gloves and shoes that I wore during our 2nd adventure in the Kunlun Mountains and while I am not entirely happy with this as those adventures are still too fresh and remind me a little too much of what General Tsao was like, does it feel good to be back in my old outfit.
The blue shirt with yellow turtleneck, the blue gloves with yellow bands at the wrists, blue shoes with laces of the same color, the golden belt with silver Raccoon symbol for a buckle and finally the blue peasants cap with black mask to cover my eyes make me feel as if Sly Cooper is back in business – even if he really isn't yet.
Still, to feel a little more like myself since my fight with the crime boss and to have my old cloths back on while sitting in one of the floor holes with my team, Carmelita and her parents surrounding me, feels like I am in some kind of mix between the good old times and whatever the future could still have in store for me.
The fact that I am seated next to my beloved with Bentley on my other side and with Penelope next to him and Carmelita's parents next to her make me feel as if I am at a family meeting, as if Carmelita and I are back home and I invited my brother and his girl while she invited her parents, something that really warms me from the inside.

Penelope is also an amazing chef as the few nuts, chestnuts and other fruits that she was able to gather from the island itself have been baked above a self-made fire with natural perfection and while I have no doubt that the whole gang had stored several pieces of provision in the van, does this still feel very nice and is the meal very good.
We all eat our fill and, while I know I can't partake in the plan itself as I just don't feel ready to go against that bastard while his army is still as strong as it is, do I still feel curious over what Carmelita and the gang could have cooked up the night before and after taking the last few bites of my breakfast, do I ask:
"So, what's the plan?" Everyone looks at me and I smile, trying to keep back on the fear of having any of them confront a guy with his level of influence and I say: "Hey, I know I'm in no shape to fight the Crime Boss just yet, his influence worries and scares me, I admit, but can't a guy at least know what his team's up to?"
At this the gang shares a look with each other, something that worries me and makes me wonder what they cooked up even more than before and Bentley says: "We're planning to use his own method against him." This confuses me and I ask: "His own method?" Bentley nods and while Carmelita lies a hand on mine, does he say:

"We're planning to trick him – like we tricked him into thinking we fled when we arrived here. We're going to shadow all of our team mates, who one by one will show themselves out in the open and rush from whoever the Crime Boss sends out to get us. Then, when we get to an area of our expertise, will the whole gang fight the pursuers."
This makes my lips thin, the idea sounding to have merit and at the same time making me worry for whoever will be used as bait as I just don't want to take any risks with any of those around me before Penelope says: "By doing it this way, will we force the Crime Lord to send out more and more men, yet we will keep the advantage.
We will let one of us – probably Guru – keep an eye out on the Crime Boss himself to see when he runs out of men and when he does – SMASH! – we bust into his place and give him hell!" And while the girl sounds hyper active and confident, do I feel the fear I have for the Crime Boss and his men rise back up and whisper:
"Use the Van." Everyone looks confused and I glare at them as I say: "I know I forfeited my rights as leader, but use the van. Let it follow whoever is being used as bait from a distance and the minute you get the feeling that the plan will fail, the van picks you up and we get to a new hide out. I may not be leader, but I won't risk my team."

At this everyone nods and Bentley says: "We were planning to wait with the plan for a few days anyway, give the Crime Boss a little more the belief that we fled and aren't coming back as that will make his confidence rise and that will make it easier for us to ambush him when the time comes. So don't worry just yet, okay Sly?"
And while this relieves me, am I no fool and do I know that they all have an ulterior motive for waiting a few days, namely wanting to give me some more time to heal. At this do I send them all grateful smiles and when they notice this does Murray give me a happy wink before I sigh and fall back into the pit and ask:
"So, if we're all staying here for a while, what do we do?" The team all looks at each other and Bentley asks: "You're kidding me, right?" Making me raise a challenging eyebrow his way as he groans and says: "Sly, we're in the last remaining area of the Cooper Vault. What else are we supposed to do?"
"Play Hide and Seek in the pits?" I comment lazily and while I get a raised eyebrow from Panda King and Carmelita's father, does her mother smother her laughter and does Bentley slap himself on the forehead and ask: "Why did I even bother?" Making me laugh as teasing my little turtle buddy was definitely something I missed.

Bentley then leaves the pit and says: "I'm going to go see if there was something Penelope and I missed a month ago. The rest of you can do whatever you want and see if you can outwit our old leader." And while he grumbles under his breath, does his body stance prove me that he isn't really annoyed with me at all.
This warms my heart as I remember the few times I had actually pestered Bentley a little too much, feeling careless and irresponsible and wanting to make sure I don't make that mistake now that I have my team back in my life, do I say: "You missing something? Give me a break, Bentley, as if." Making Bentley send a smile my way.
Then suddenly does Murray say: "Oh, oh, Oh, I know! The Murray knows! The Murray knows what Sly can do." This makes all of us look at him as he rushes out of the cave and returns a few minutes later, carrying a very, very familiar book that I haven't actually opened since my defeat and handing it to me as he says:
"The Murray knows you were forced to use these techniques for that bastard Crime Boss, Sly, but you're in the Cooper Vault now. You're meant to do it here, don't you think buddy?" And just by those words do I smile at Murray, my eyes wide and slightly moist as I can't believe how right my friend actually is.

Murray smiles back at me and I happily turn around as I had gone to lie on my front while waiting for Murray to return and with the large tome on my lap and Carmelita scooting a little closer, do I follow my instincts and allow for my fingers to leave through the book, opening it at the most familiar set of pages I can think of.
A picture of a Raccoon with the suit of a ninja, who has a set of canes with one in each hand that are obviously made of Bamboo and of which one has a golden tip and the other is completely made of bamboo is crouched on top of a small spire sticking out from a rooftop with many other spires shown all across the rest of the picture.
I smile widely at seeing the image of my favorite ancestor, Riochi Cooper, and while the shadowy form of Clockwerk is very clearly visible above the mountains in the background, is the way that Riochi looks the other way and how he stands on just that one small circular shaped spire what makes me love the picture very much.

"He seems pretty powerful." Carmelita then softly mutters as she gazes at the picture over my shoulder and while feeling elated that I can share my family's history with my dearest vixen, do I say: "He was. Riochi Cooper was a famous Ninja who invented the Ninja Spiral Jump and who was also the inventor of Sushi."
"The in – wait, what?" Carmelita's father then asks me in shock and I nod as I say: "According to the tale did Riochi Cooper once fish for a great White Shark, who actually had a mark like the Cooper Symbol on his body. This was seen as a sign by Riochi and the Shark pledged it loyalty to Riochi in return for sparring its life.
The Shark then became Riochi's steed as they fought alongside the Shogun's army in great battles and Riochi's steed together with his own abilities led to victory, which in return made the Shogun award them both greatly. However, when the Shark became too old, did it grant Riochi's dream to begin a Sushi House.
It sacrificed itself and Riochi was able to make such amazing Great White Shark Sashimi out of it, his Sushi Restaurant instantly became a big hit. And this in turn allowed for Riochi to make sure his fame grew in the world, but that no one ever figured out it was him that did all the stealing from those in Japan that just didn't deserve their wealth."

All three of the Fox Family members look at me shocked and I say: "Hey, it says it right here and I don't think a ninja like Riochi would ever lie to his own descendants now, do you?" The Foxes shake their head and then Carmelita's mother leans forward with her arms on her knees as she asks: "Do you know anything else about Riochi?"
To which I shrug and say: "I know his Ninja Spiral Jump." The three look amazed and interested and I take a quick look around, feeling very, very pleased when I notice how there is a small spire made out of stone that is sticking straight up a few meters to the North East of the tunnel and I happily close the book and lie it down.
Carmelita quickly takes it upon her lap and her eyes promise me she'll take good care of it, making me send her a grateful smile and kiss her lips ever so shortly with the love that soars in my heart for her, before I mutter: "Watch and learn." Part of me feeling that it shouldn't be just me that can perform this wondrous technique.

I then dash for the spire, making a running leap a few feet away from it and twisting my body in the ever so familiar twist that Riochi Cooper's section taught me so many years ago when I first retrieved his section of the Thievius Raccoonus and thanks to the twist that I make, do I feel myself landing on the spire light as a feather.
My feet twist themselves around the pointed edge of the spire and each other and while my legs crouch down somewhat, do I feel my waist center itself around every other part of my body, allowing me to land flawlessly and make for those who have never seen this before – Carmelita's parents – to gasp in awe.
I then see a few more spires up ahead and while wondering if Bentley had noticed these as well when he emptied this section of the Vault, do I make several more jumps, landing on the spires one at a time, yet while I do, do I somehow feel something very strange, like some kind of power, rising up from every spire that I land on.
Then suddenly, as I land on the tenth on the path, does the spire itself actually light up with the power I had felt coming from the powers surging through me earlier and while shocked at seeing this, do I suddenly feel as if I am not alone while standing on this spire, as if there is someone else also crouching down with me.

Closing my eyes in order to focus on this presence, do I feel someone with incredible grace, talent and respect in his heart reaching out to me and then – while shocked as I realize who's presence this is – do I feel Riochi Cooper reaching into my ability to perform the Ninja Spiral Jump and do I feel him giving it a boost of power.
Feeling the actual ability grow within me, do I feel as if some part of me has suddenly evolved to a greater stage and when the power fades and the presence of my Ancestor leaves me alone on the spire, do I look up, suddenly noticing how the next spire is much too far away for the Ninja Spiral Jump to help me reach it.
Yet I know already that this will work and focus on what I felt before, feeling the evolved strength of the Ninja Spiral Jump surround me from the inside and while focusing very strongly on the distance between myself and the next spire, do I feel the energy strengthening the muscles in my legs and do I feel myself not jumping, but leaping.
A true power, one I haven't even felt when combining two techniques together, races through me as I surge for the spire a good 10 feet in front of me and yet, while the jump feels so strong, so filled with incredible power, do I feel myself twisting like I usually do when using the Ninja Spiral Jump and do I again land soft as a feather.

Everyone, by now, looks at me totally shocked, all of them having rushed over when they saw the light coming from the spire I was on before and while my eyes are wide at seeing the distance I just leapt, do I silently reach for the Raccoonus, Carmelita handing it to me with her hands trembling in shocked concern.
I quickly open Riochi's section again and read it through, part of me knowing what just happened yet another part of me not wanting to believe that I can be right about what just went through me and then I reach it; the part where Riochi Cooper writes about how he further developed the Ninja Spiral Jump and created:
"The Leaping Dragon Technique." I then whisper and everyone looks at me as I read about what Riochi did to develop this technique and what it allows the user to do, namely leap from exceedingly long distances between spires without injuring oneself due to the incredible strength that is required for the technique to work.

Looking up from what I have read, do I look around, suddenly wondering if Riochi was the only one who left part of his spirit here to further train future generations of the Cooper Line and after a few gazes through the last remaining section of the Vault am I proven wrong as I suddenly notice something in one of the walls.
A whole array of rings that are connected the wall itself and that – after a while – actually grow in distance between each other and that – at the very top of the wall – have several obstacles made of wood blocking one from the other while the top ring also has a very familiar sword-like cane dangling from its grasp.

"Galleth's Catapult Crash technique. This last section of the Vault wasn't just used as a storage for treasures, it was a sanctuary where spirits of Coopers long since passed on can partially remain in order to teach their most powerful techniques for those of the Cooper Line that are yet to be." I then whisper in sheer awe.
Everyone looks to where I am gazing and I use the Leaping Dragon Technique a second time, the power I feel rushing through me as I make the tremendous leap giving me an adrenaline rush unlike any I have ever felt before, while at the same time I feel as if what happened to me by the Crime Boss never even took place at all.
Feeling my pride and self-confidence return to me again, do I know what has to happen; my friends have to exert their plan and I have to make sure I learn any and every technique that the spirits of my ancestors still want to teach me before my team has taken down all of the Crime Boss' lackeys and head for the Boss himself.
This makes a self-confident and excited smile grow on my muzzle, the feeling that I can handle this guy with my new techniques and the idea to learn from the spirits of my ancestors filling me with a powerful excitement that makes me just want to leap and crow, yet instead of that do I turn all my focus on the task at hand;

My new training.

Wow, that went well!
To be honest, I had no idea what I wanted to let happen in the Vault, but I felt something had to happen and to have it be something that can help Sly heal and at the same time bring out some hints to Sly 4 just felt right. Now, Sly will be learning the techniques one at a time, but I won't be writing about that.
Why? Because the Crime boss is coming up and I want to start writing about the rest of the team, how they trick him and how they take out his lackeys. Also, I just want to let you know that there will be more 'The Coopers slighted me so I want revenge' in this story, which is pretty similar to almost all Cannon enemies of the series.
Enjoy next chapter,

Venquine1990