Yo, PickleToast here! Guess what? I'M ALIVE! I want to apologize to all the people who have read and reviewed any of my stories since the beginning of the year. I was finishing up college, only to follow it with a friend's wedding and then a summer class. Needless to say, I've been busy. However, due to some people requesting updates, here I am again!
This chapter is dedicated to the following reviewers, who have inspired me to continue this particular story: shinxshinx1595; Dream Bound Nightmare; DiamondthePirate; and to one anonymous, who I hope will come back and read this.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sly Cooper, I only own the story line and some of the OC characters within this story. Some of the said OCs belong to my good friend DarkinUnderground.
Warning: This chapter may include some Out of Character moments, please bear with it and if you have any comments about how to make it better, please state it nicely in the comment section below. Also please note that this is my headcannon story and it may conflict with other people's ideas. I only ask that those who dislike my ideas to be nice about it and keep an open mind. Thank you and enjoy the story!
-012012012012-
Chapter 3: Rewind Knight
Time traveling had never really been a smooth ride by any means, but Sly swore that this current ride through time was the bumpiest. Bentley had already mentioned something about turbulence so many times that Sly lost count. He briefly looked in the back at his ancestors. All of them looked a little car sick. Well, almost all of them. Tennessee looked bored, mumbling something about how this was smoother than a rodeo.
Turning back around Sly stared off into space, thinking about what had just happened. Logi, as Galleth had told them, had died practically right in front of them. Sly was saddened by it, but more sad for Logi. He was his ancestor, an ancestor that, if not for them, would not have had a proper burial, whose accomplishments would have never been noted, and whose entry never would have made it into the Theivius Raccoonus. With his head bowed slightly, Sly wondered what Logi's life had been like. He would've liked to have actually spoken with him. He also felt ashamed about freezing up like he had. He was a Cooper darn it! He shouldn't, couldn't freeze up like that no matter what. Any moment of hesitation could lead to capture, or worse, death.
Despite that, he was incredibly glad Salim was there. He had really underestimated his Arabic ancestor, and felt guilty for everything bad he had said or thought about him. Sly closed his eyes and sighed, making a mental promise to personally apologize to Salim, and possibly ask him about his magic. He also made a mental note to place a hammock in the back for him to nap in. While Sly didn't know how long this 'mission' would take, he had a feeling it would be a while. Sly was pulled from his thoughts as the van suddenly jerked, sending those not strapped down flying forwards. There was more jerking, followed by a brief stillness before they were suddenly free falling.
"Hang on everybody! It's gunna get bumpy!" Murray said as he did his best to control the van. He managed to deploy a glider and got the van safely to the ground, much like an airplane landing. After a minute or so trying to calm his heartbeat, Sly turned around.
"Is everyone okay?"
"Yes, we're fine. Just a little shaken up." Bentley replied while the others groaned.
Relieved, Sly unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the van. The others soon followed. They were in an open green field. Looking to their left they saw that they were also fairly close to a town. The architecture of the buildings looked old, but Sly couldn't quite place the time period that they were in. However, he thought that they looked similar to the houses he saw in Galleth's time.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"I don't know, cuz." Tennessee replied, scratching his head. "But I do believe that there is a flag. Anyone knows what it is?" They looked over to the tower he had pointed to. Flying proudly in the sky was indeed a flag. It was white with two black stripes and a what appeared to be a black eagle. Bentley immediately knew where they were.
"I recognize that flag. We must be in Prussia." Before anyone could respond, they heard the sound of horses. They decided to follow the sound. Getting closer to the town, they hid behind some rocks on the upper part of the field and looked down a hill. At the bottom on a dirt road was a large chart wagon with two horses that were being looked over by who they could only think was the driver. But that wasn't what got their attention. It was the person at the end of the wagon, looking out toward the town.
It was a young lady raccoon. She was rather petite, with her long, wavy brown hair pinned up in a lazy bun. She had light tan fur with gray rings. Her brown eyes looked worried and sad. Her pale orange dress fluttered lightly in the wind. In her arms she held a blue bundle. They couldn't quite tell what she was actually holding.
"Whoo wee! She's a looker ain't she?" Tennessee asked. Rioichi looked slightly disgusted with his descendant's way of speaking.
"That is no way to talk about a lady, young one." He chided. Tennessee didn't seem to really care.
"I don't here ya disagreeing." He said with a grin. He turned to the others. "What about y'all? Don't ya think she's….um…Galleth? Are ya okay there mate?"
Galleth was standing there, wide eyed as he stared at the lady. He was pale, as if he had seen a ghost. His fingers felt cold, his heart sped up and his breath hitched. He could barely here his relatives and friends talking to him. All he could do was stare. He was in utter disbelief, there was no way he could be seeing who he was seeing. He opened his mouth and muttered a single word. "M-mother?"
The others heard what he said and were shocked. "Wait, what? That's your mom?" Sly asked, whipping his head back to the lady and back to Galleth. The knight swallowed.
"A-aye. She is. I would recognize her anywhere." He replied, still wide-eyed.
"So, we're in the past, right before Galleth's time?" Salim asked, for once wide awake. "But…why are we here?" He didn't want to say anything out loud, but he was worried. From their last experience, the one they had met had died. Now they were here, seeing Galleth's mother. Was she to die too?
"I…I don't rightly know." Galleth responded, slowly calming down from his shock. "But mother looks so young. I also do not understand why she is here in Prussia. She was a full English lady, and I clearly remember growing up in England in our little cottage."
Bentley was thinking hard. "Perhaps…" he started, but Murray interrupted.
"Guys, look! The bundle!" They all looked back to see her wiggling her fingers close to the bundle. Suddenly a tiny tan colored hand reached up and grabbed a hold of one of her fingers. The group stared in awe.
"Holy crap." Sly started. "Galleth? Is that….you?"
"I…believe so." He responded. Tennesse couldn't help but snigger lightly.
"Aww. Baby Galleth~" He got a glare in return. Before he could retort, Rioichi and Salim reached up and covered their mouths. They suddenly pointed back down to the road. After getting released, the two looked back. There was a person walking toward baby Galleth and his mother. To the group's surprise, it was another raccoon.
He was dressed in all white with some black and silver. He had a hood, but it was currently down, showing off his brilliant what fur. He had dark brown rings around his tail and around his blue eyes. He also had the beginnings of a mustache on his muzzle. What got the group most, wasn't the sword he had at his side with the tale-tell Cooper cane on it, but the fact he looked like Galleth. Or, as would be more appropriate given the time line, Galleth looked almost exactly like the other.
"Hey, Galleth? I think that's your dad." Sly said, voicing his opinion. No one made a comment, too stunned. Galleth especially, as his mouth hung open. That was his father? He had never met his father, his mother telling him sadly that he had passed away shortly after he was born. His heart sped up, in both anticipation, happiness, and dread. His father. He would finally get to see his father. But…being that he never met him, and given what had happened with Logi, that meant that his father was going to die, and possibly very soon. As his father approached his mother, the group quieted down and strained their ears to listen.
"Magdalene." He started, his voice deep and full of concern. She looked up from their child and smiled.
"Gilbert." She said taking a step closer before giving her husband a hug, being careful not to squish her son. "Do you have to stay? Why can't you come with us back to England?" She asked sadly. Her husband, Gilbert, sighed.
"I want to so much, my love. Believe me." He started. "But I can't. Not until this last mission is complete."
"Then why can't we stay until you are done?"
"I have a bad feeling, love. I would rather you two start on ahead. I will follow you as soon as I can, if I can." Gilbert said. He moved a lock of Magalene's hair out of her face. "Please Mag. Do this for me? I would feel so much more comfortable knowing that the two of you are safely on your way." Magdalene looked unhappy about it, but she sighed and nodded. Baby Galleth decided to give his opinion on the matter and started to whine. Gilbert smiled sadly, moving to gently stroke his young son's cheek, calming him down. "Don't give your mother too much trouble, alright son?"
Gilbert stood up straight again, before handing his wife something. It was thick and wrapped in a course cream cloth. With a gasp, the group realized it was the Theivius Raccoonus. "Please give this to Galleth when he is old enough." Magdalene looked apprehensive, but she took the package anyway.
"Why not give it to him yourself?" She asked, starting to worry. It would seem she too had realized that this might be the last time she would ever see her husband.
"Just in case." Was all Gilbert replied. He looked up briefly. "Your ride is ready my love." He gave her and their son one last hug and a kiss, before he helped them up onto the wagon and watched as the wagon started off down the road. He stayed until the wagon was gone from his sight. Sighing, he turned and walked back to town.
"Well, I think I know why none of us have ever heard about your father." Sly said, looking at Galleth.
"We should follow him." Bentley started. "I don't know about any of you, but I'm getting a bad feeling about this." With a unanimous decision, they sent Sly in his archer outfit into town, keeping communication lines with the others open. Galleth had wanted to go as well, but Rioichi had pointed out that it would not be a good idea, as it was always possible for him to be spotted by Gilbert or be recognized by someone else. It was safer to have Sly go, as everyone else would just stick out far too much. Sly was used to acting, used to blending in. That didn't stop Galleth from being the closest to the communication device.
Salim sat in the back, looking at Galleth with some pity. He knew what his descendant was thinking. When they had met Logi, it had already been too late. But Gilbert was still alive and well. They had figured out from his conversation with Magdalene that this last mission of his would also be his end. But since Gilbert hadn't left for it yet, there was still a chance, a hope, that he could be saved. Be spared from his fate. Galleth wanted to know his father, he wanted him to live, and they had a chance to. But Salim wasn't sure if they could. As sad and as terrible as it was, Gilbert had died here originally. Who was to say that saving him would not cause a paradox? Salim really didn't want Gilbert to die either, but he still worried. He kept his thoughts to himself, however. He didn't want to upset Galleth. He looked at Rioichi and noticed he was having similar thoughts that he was.
The static from the communication device snapped him out of his thoughts. "Hey guys, I followed Gilbert to what appears to be a friend's house. I can't hear what they are saying, but I can enter the house through the back window. What do you think?"
"I am curious about this mission of his. Go in, and please don't let them hear you, especially Gilbert." Bentley said. Back in town, Sly huffed. Did Bentley really not have faith in him? Then again, he would be sneaking around another Cooper. Sly just smirked. He liked a challenge. It was harder to get in through the window than he had thought. Unlike what he had expected the house to be like, it was a very opened floor plan. He managed to sneak a peak at who Gilbert was talking to in hushed whispers. It was a fairly young tabby cat with glasses. Sly finally got his chance to slip in when the two walked down into the basement. He stood behind the wall to the stairs and listened in, leaving communications opened so the others could hear as well.
"I still don't understand why you sent the missus and kid ahead of you." The cat said. A sigh was heard.
"I already told you, friend. I will not repeat myself for the fifth time." Gilbert sounded exasperated. His cat friend just laughed.
"By the by, Gilbert. Aren't you supposed to be heading out soon for that last mission?"
"Yes, that's why I stopped by here first. There is something I would like you to do for me." His friend looked confused.
"What could I possible do for you?"
"This." Gilbert said, before taking off a necklace that they had previously missed. It was silver, with a Holy Cross on it. It was the size of Sly's hand, and Sly swore that it was glowing slightly. The cat looked taken aback.
"What? Your cross?!"
"Yes." Gilbert said, placing it in a box and locking it before handing it over to the cat. "In the chance that I do not make it back from this mission, I want you to send this to my wife and son. It is rightly his. Wait a month before you do so."
"B-but Gilbert! I-I can't do that!" Fear was evident in his voice as he stumbled. "If you have a feeling that your life is in danger, shouldn't you keep this?! I know it was your cross that has saved you multiple times before! And-!" Gilbert raised his hand, shushing him.
"It doesn't matter right now, friend. If it is to be my time to go, then it will be. It is as God would have it. If not, then God will have me live. Now, just promise me that you will do me this last favor. Please, my friend. It is all I ask." He said, with a stern look in his eyes. The tone of his voice left no room for argument. The cat swallowed thickly and hung his head sadly.
"I-alright." He relented.
"Thank you." Gilbert smiled. He gave his friend a brief hug, before stepping back. "I must be going now. Thank you for everything, my friend."
Sly quickly made his way out of the house before Gilbert could even start up the stairs. The others in the van were quiet as well. Galleth looked confused. "I never received a cross like that." He said.
"Never?" Tennessee asked.
"Nay. Never."
"I wonder what happened to it then." Rioichi pondered. He had an idea, but didn't like it. The only thing he could think of was that the cat didn't honor his friend's last request and never sent it. But he didn't want to worry Galleth, so he swallowed the thought and said instead, "Perhaps it got lost on the way to you in England?"
"Maybe." Bentley responded. "Hey Sly. I don't think I need to say it, but follow Gilbert to the mission."
"You got it!" Sly said, before tailing after the older raccoon. He had a couple of times that he had to quickly hide, as Gilbert would suddenly without warning whip around and scan the area. Sly silently cursed. Gilbert was very, very aware of his surroundings, and had seemed to have figured out that he was being followed. But not being able to see anyone, Gilbert would just hesitantly turn back and continue walking.
Eventually, Sly managed to follow Gilbert to the opposite side of the town. There were more people standing there in the same white outfit Gilbert wore. All of them had a black cross on the back of the coat. He hadn't seen it before on Gilbert's as the hood covered it up. He heard a gasp from Bentley. "Holy Knights!" He said. "I never would have taken him for a religious man, considering his family name." Sly found it ironic as well.
"I can't hear much, but from what I can get out of their discussion, they are heading to a cave southwest from here. I'll meet you guys back at the van." Several minutes later, he was back with the others, and they were driving off southwest of the town. After getting lost quite a few times, they finally managed to come across a very large cave. The best part was that they had also managed to find the correct cave, as they noticed all of the Holy Knights standing in front, discussing something before the starting inside the cave, drawing their weapons and keeping them at the ready.
Knowing that there was no way that any of them could follow the knights into the cave, they had to sit outside, watching the cave entrance. It was quiet and tense. Tennessee was fidgeting. Rioichi was trying to meditate, but his form was far more tense than calm. Salim was tossing and turning around as he tried to take a nap. Bentley was tapping on his laptop. Murray was shoveling food nervously. Galleth was taking the waiting the worst. He was pacing around, playing with the straps of his own armor.
Hours later, the Theivius Raccoonus began to glow erratically. They all gathered around. "What is happening? Is the book trying to tell us something?" Murray asked.
"I don't know." Sly said. He was about to continue when the ground shook. They whipped their heads around toward the cave. They could see a good ways down the tunnel from the viewpoint they had, and were relieved to see the knights starting to run towards the exit, Gilbert up front. However, their relief was short lived. The ground rumbled again and the rocks began to fall. The cave was collapsing.
It was then that they all figured it all out. This was why Gilbert never made it back to his wife and to his son, Galleth. He had died in the cave collapse, the large boulders his grave. The book flashed brighter, more erratic, almost frantic and angry. No one knew what to do. Sly looked back, eyes wide as a large boulder fell, just barely missing Gilbert.
With a quick intake of breath, Sly suddenly went forward. He had an idea. An almost preposterous idea. But if he was right in what he thought the book was trying to tell him, then he severely hoped it would work. He changed into the thief outfit he had received from Salim in record time, including the staff. Without giving an explanation he raised the staff, activating it.
'Please, please, to anyone up there who's listening! Please, let this work!' he prayed, closing his eyes. The sound of large balloon bursting rang throughout the area before all sound vanished. After a moment, Sly hesitantly opened his eyes before letting his jaw drop. Time had actually stopped. Not slowed down like normal, but stopped. He looked back at the others, their eyes also wide.
-012012012-
Gilbert ran as fast as he could, his comrades following. His legs hurt, his breathing fast and frantic, and his heart was pounding out of his chest. They had successfully completed their mission, but they had not expected the entire cave to start collapsing. He internally sighed. He just knew that this would happen.
'I'm sorry Maggie. I'm sorry Galleth. It doesn't look like I'll be able to follow you.' He thought, narrowly dodging a boulder. 'Please, God, my Lord. Look after them.' He closed his eyes, waiting for the ceiling to fall on top of him. He waited for his end.
It never came.
Stopping, Gilbert opened his eyes and froze. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. He wasn't. He starred, wide eyed, as he looked around the cave. There was a violet hue, and the boulders that were falling down? They were floating. In midair. Curiously, Gilbert poked one of them, amazed as it was pushed back slightly. He looked back, jaw slack, about to ask his companions if they, too, were seeing what he was seeing. However, that was not possible. They were just as frozen in their spots as the boulders were. Not one to leave a person behind, Gilbert tried to move them. He could not.
Not having anything else to do, he made his way out of the cave, hoping to find something he could use to move his comrades. But as soon as he walked out, the violet hue vanished, and the ground shook again. Gilbert fell to his knees, taken aback by the suddenness. A loud sound came from behind him, followed by screams. Alarmed, Gilbert turned, only to find that the cave had fully collapsed. A minute later and the trembles came to a stop, and the last pebble fell from the cave ceiling, making its stop on the ground.
Gilbert sat there stunned for the longest time. He couldn't wrap his mind around what had just happened. He looked up to the sky. With a shaky breath, his smiled lightly, tears beginning to make their way into his eyes. "My Lord, my God, my Savior. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you…" he started. He slowly made his way to his feet before walking to the closed up entrance. Laying his left hand on one of the boulders, he placed his right hand above his heart, and bowed his head. He prayed the God would welcome his brave comrades with open arms into his domain and to forgive them of their sins.
He stepped back and with one last moment of silence, he turned and walked back to town. Despite his still pounding heart and sour body, he smiled. "Hey, Magdalene? I'm on my way." He said, wondering how long it would take for him to catch up with the wagon. But first, he had to pay a visit to his friend again. It looked like he wouldn't need to have him mail it out. He could give it to his son himself.
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After Gilbert vanished from sight, everyone sighed in relief. Sly then started to laugh. It worked. It worked! Gilbert was alive! The Theivius Raccoonus had taken them back in time to save his ancestors from unnecessary fates. Slowly everyone started to laugh as well. Everyone was happy, and still on an adrenalin high from that suspenseful event.
Galleth then froze, eyes going wide and blank. With a gasp, he fell down, Tennessee catching him. His original memories were suddenly filled with a father he had previously never known. He remembered his father teaching him how to use a sword. He remembered his father giving him the Theivius Raccoonus. He remembered his mother with a smile almost permanently on her face, eyes happy and full of love. He remembered…
Snapping out of his trance, he frantically started unhooking his armour, ignoring the voices of everyone else. He searched under his shirt, his hand hitting an object. A weight that he was certain was never there prior. He took it out, and his eyes landed on the same cross his father had given to his friend. For the second time, Galleth's eyes welled up and he began to cry. No one said a thing. Rioichi placed a comforting hand in his shoulder.
The book flashed brightly one more time, flying open on its own, revealing a couple of new pages that weren't there before. Sly looked at them and noticed that they were Gilbert's pages. He smiled brightly. Unfortunately, they were not given a lot of time to decompress from the event, as the time machine started to activate again. They all piled in, wondering where they were going to be taken next, and who else needed their help.
-012012012-
And there it is! The long awaited chapter 3! I hoped you all liked it!
Anyway, here is Gilbert's profile:
Name: Gilbert Cooper
Gender: Male
Cane: Holy Sword
Description: White fur with brown rings. He has blue eyes and wears mostly white as well.
Extra: He is a religious man, but he doesn't push his faith on anyone. In his perspective, religion should be like honor. If someone does not believe in his religion or follow it, then that is okay. He will respect their religion, just as long as they respect his.