Ch14: Flame Temple and the Third Meeting
Once we deciphered that the way into the stronghold could only be accessed via treasure keys (go figure) the both of us split up and went to different areas. I headed in the direction of the training ground that was known in the game as 'the flaming temple of flame.'
When I got there, I was met by the large bamboo-wielding ape and knocked him out swiftly, going onward by rail sliding down the paper lantern wire. "Though by the exterior this looks like a temple, this place is actually a training ground. Be careful, Sylvia," Bentley warned. "No worries, Bentley," I smirked. 'Just gotta remember that one bottle duo in the temple...'
Once I got to the area with the ninjas, (making sure to get those two bottles that ALWAYS seem to elude everyone...) I proceeded to go past them and grab the bottles above the area and leave the temple, making sure to drop down a level to grab those few bottles. I then whacked the firework platform and rode it safely up. After all that was done, I managed to ride down another lantern pole and knock out the flashlight guard by moving whilst invisible, knocking him out just as I lifted my guise.
"Silly monkey!" I smirked, continuing on to attack the martial arts monkey and use the hooks to reach the final area. "Okay... I've got all the bottles, so now I need to get over this laser grid..." I frowned, pointing out the laser floor in front of me. Though it didn't cause any trouble, I decided to leave it up while I got the ability. "Amazing! I didn't know this was possible! Sir Augustine Cooper's notes on how to momentarily defy gravity!" Bentley exclaimed. "That sounds pretty awesome, I'll admit," I smiled, just then smashing the alarm system and grabbing the key.
I met back up with Sly at the stronghold where he showed me the Panda King's blueprints and I showed him the gravity defying move. "Sweet!" he smiled. "Wanna unlock these fireworks?" I asked. (Seriously? How do you lock up fireworks with padlocks?!) "Affirmative." We hit the fuse and the blockade was demolished. "I'm gonna go ahead, Sly," I said, heading down and emerging to the area that led to the Firework Factory, the Carmelita Chase, and the Murray Race.
"Seems we can use these fireworks to reach the Panda King," I pointed out when Sly met up with me. "However, we'll need all the keys to open it... again..." "Yeah, I'm starting to wonder about the Fiendish Five's defense strategy as well," Sly said, actually agreeing with me. "I'm gonna go up here over to the plasma shooter. You can do the other stuff," I smirked, calling dibs on the awesome machine. "No fair!" Sly pouted when I hopped on without him. "Come on! I haven't even done a turret before! I wanna have a 'blast!' Ha!" I exclaimed, letting the cannon loose on the door.
When I entered, I sent one last thing to Sly before he got in the fight with Carmelita. "Sly?" I asked him. "What is it, Sylvia?" he asked back. "Don't ask me how, but the code for the last vault is 2-3-1." "Um... h-" I cut him off before I went on my way, destroying the door in my way and making my way into the fireworks factory. I felt a slight pinch on my ear and quickly grabbed it, pulled it off, and crushed it. "Number 45. FORTY-FIVE! How much longer is that owl gonna torture my body with these damn trackers?!" I yelled afterwards, causing a small avalanche in the distance. I didn't care. I just kept shooting and moving.
"It doesn't do you well to resist my powers, young Sylvia," said the demonic robotic voice. I didn't even turn around, since I knew that it was coming from behind me. Clockwerk. AGAIN! "Damnit! Just go back to your hellhole of a volcano and leave me alone!" I yelled, turning around and shooting the heck out of his eyes, somehow able to blind him temporarily. "AUGH!" he exclaimed as I zoomed away, hoping to lose him in the factory.
"Insolent pest!" he growled as I made it into the building, his head actually getting stuck in the doorway. "I said keep away from me!" I yelled, actually shooting my dual pistols at the wall and enemies in front of me while I attacked Clockwerk's face with the plasma shooters.
"Get back here, bitch!" he exclaimed as I made my way out of the factory, making sure he was blinded further before I made it out. 'Okay... just keep shooting with pistols and then, once I get done with that, just jump over the rest of the obstacles...' I thought out my plan. "Sly! I'm in trouble here!" I exclaimed into the Binocucom. "I know! I heard the loud screech from my chase with Carmelita! Is it Clockwerk?!" he asked. "Yeah, and he's pissed! I blinded him temporarily with the plasma shooter, but he's catching up to me! I can feel it!"
I could actually hear the wings behind me as I jumped for it, grabbing the key and being warped away the moment I put it in my purse. "Yeess!" I said in a hushed voice, knowing Clockwerk might hear. "I see recklessness comes in Cooper Thief Clan..." said ANOTHER FREAKIN' FIENDISH FIVE MEMBER! "Mr. King..." I said, turning around to face him. I didn't see anything but a microphone, though. "You might as well come when you have chance... I am more forgiving than Clockwerk at this point..."
I waited for Sly to show up, happy that it only took him a minute to return, both keys and the page in his hand. "How'd you know the code for the vault?" Sly asked as well as Bentley at the same time. "Call it a female intuition," I lied. I didn't want to tell them that I had memorized it as the last code needed once you beat the game. "This is the time stopper technique! It can freeze time temporarily! Isn't that awesome?!" "Yeah, but we need to move! The Panda King awaits!"