Hey, it's PickleToast here! Gosh, I can't believe how long it's been! But I have some great news! I'll be going to Optometry School starting this summer and I got an apartment! Woooo!
Anyway, now that I have time to decompress, here is the much anticipated fourth chapter. As always, I DO NOT own Sly Copper. I only own the storyline and some of the original characters, some of which 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!
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This trip was just as bad as the previous, jerking everyone left and right every few seconds without fail. However, Sly was willing to bet that this current trip was just a bit worse in comparison. Galleth was still in a dazed head rush from newly gained memories, which combined with the turbulence of the van caused his face to turn green and his stomach to rebel against him. Rioichi was rubbing circles on Galleth's temples to help calm his descendant's massive headache while Tennessee was helping to keep Galleth sort of stable and not falling over.
Sly looked across from him at Salim, who was eyeing the Thievius Raccoonus. Sly decided to start up a conversation, if he could that is. This IS Salim he was trying to talk to. "Hey, um…Salim? I never really got a chance to really say this, but um…thanks. For what you did back there with Logi." He gave an uncharacteristic shy smile. Salim looked up and returned a small smile.
"You are welcome. While odd that you as a Cooper would freeze up so suddenly like that, I think I understand. You're used to seeing what's going on, as well as hearing it at the same time. Not just hearing it."
"Yeah." Sly awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "My imagination acted up." He felt embarrassed and a little ashamed. Just as Salim said, he was a Cooper! A Cooper doesn't just freeze up in the middle of a mission!
"Do not fret too much." Salim started, looking back at the book. "You are still young yet. You've many years to practice and overcome it."
"Thank you." Sly copied Salim and starred at the book. He knew that the Thievius Raccoonus was intimately intertwined with his family and history, but he was shocked that it would go through such lengths as this just to save some of those who held it once before. Whether the book was acting on impulse and with good intentions, just wanting those destined to die live again, or on selfish desires to have more of its own pages filled out, Sly didn't know. Up until now he had never even considered the possibility that the book would have a will of its own.
But now, the more Sly thought about it, the more sense it made. The book was started with Slytunkhamen, in an age where magic and unresting souls practically ran rampant. It wouldn't be a surprise if something happened to allow the book a will of its own. Either way, Sly was still glad it did. He was getting another chance to see and bond with his ancestors, and a chance to help better the past, present, and future of his family and clan. He was thankful.
Sly looked up to say as such to Salim, but frowned. Salim looked worried, annoyed, and even a little angry as he practically starred a hole through the Thievius Raccoonus. 'I wonder what's got him so worked up?' Sly thought. "Salim? Why are yo-"
Sly was interrupted by a harsh jerk forward as if the van had collided with something, before feeling the free fall they had back in Prussia. Murray's knuckles were white as he desperately tried to control the van. The glider that had helped last time wasn't doing the trick now, and Murray had to also deploy the parachutes.
The van landed hard and began skidding. Some terrifying seconds later, the van finally came to a halt. Silence filled the area as everyone took deep breaths to calm their hearts. "Is everyone okay?" Bentley asked, receiving nods and groans in return.
"Well we are, but I don't think my van is." Murray said, sadly. He grabbed a large tool kit that was next to his seat and exited the van. The others followed out. The van was indeed in bad shape. The crash had caused a lot of scrapes, the bumper was dented, two of the tires had burst, and the front axle was dislodged. At least there was no smoke and no one could see any oil leakage. "MY POOR VAN!" Murray cried, hugging the front. "Shh, it's okay. The Murray will fix you up in no time!"
"Let's give him some room." Bentley suggested, getting everyone to move back.
"So…where are we now?" Sly asked. All he could see was green, grassy hills and the ocean off to one side.
"I don't know, Sly. I guess we'll need to do some reconnaissance. "
After deciding the have Galleth stay behind to recover and making sure Murray was doing okay, Sly grabbed the Thievius Raccoonus and ran to catch up with the others. Figuring that where there was water, a town or something would be nearby, the group walked together toward the ocean. They stopped when they came across a port town. A very large port town.
The streets and plazas were crowded as people hustled and bustled this way and that. Buildings made of stone and wood, and even some steel stood proud amongst the people. Sly made a quick stop and managed to steal some clothes for everyone to wear. He put back on his archer outfit himself, as it seemed to blend in here as well.
No one looked their way as they headed closer to the port, where a large boat seemed to be parked and taking passengers. They stopped when they finally made their way to the front of the boat and began looking around for clues as to where, and when, they were. It wasn't so much of the physical characteristics of the town that gave away where they were, rather, the people did. They all spoke with an unmistakable accent. They were in Ireland.
"Wow. Well, I guess it's a good thing Galleth isn't here." Sly said, trying to make a joke. At least Bentley and Tennessee laughed. They continued looking around, until Sly felt the Thievius Raccoonus vibrating lightly in his pack, the placed his hand on it and slowly turned around until the book gave a shudder. Focusing his eyes on the crowd in front of where he was now facing, Sly tried to find a raccoon. It wasn't long before his effort was paid off.
Not too far away stood two raccoons. Female from the looks of it. One of them was much younger than the other, with light brown hair that was over her shoulder in a braid. Her bright green eyes were sad as she clutched a large bag close to her. Her fur looked to be the same color that Tennessee's was, but not the same texture. The older raccoon, possibly the other's mother, looked quite different. She had loud, curly red hair and sharp brown eyes. Her fur was tanned and she sported orange rings. The two seemed to be arguing.
Sly got the others' attention and they made their way forward slightly to hear what they were saying.
"Are you certain, mother?" the younger asked.
"Yes, my dear. I am very certain."
"But mother! Why won't you just come with me?"
"I already told you, sweetie. I have something I need to do first, but I can't do it until the right time comes. By then this boat here will have already set sail." The younger started to cry. "Don't cry now, sweetie!" the mother said, hugging her daughter close and wiping away the tears. "There are always more boats. I promise you that I will take the next boat to America. You can wait for me there, can't you?"
"I-I suppose I can." She sniffled. "But please do come soon. We have just lost father not that long ago. I do not want to lose you as well, especially if I am to be moving so very far away."
The ground couldn't hear the rest and the boat horn blew, signaling for all remaining passengers to board. By the time the crowd cleared a bit, they could only see the mother, waving at the boat. An hour later and the boat had begun leaving port. The red haired raccoon stayed a while, before taking a deep breath and leaving, heading toward the center of town.
The group tried to follow, but lost her in the crowd and town. So they made their way out and back toward the van. As they walked, Sly immediately noticed that Tennessee was quiet. Worryingly quiet. He was looking toward the ground too. Sly slowed his pace to match his.
"Hey."
"…Hey."
"What's the matter? You're all quiet. Do you feel okay?"
"I'm fine… Don't worry about it."
"Ten. You're quiet. You're never quiet. Don't forget that us Coopers are just as good at identifying lies as we are telling them. Now what's wrong?"
"…Sorry, cuz. I didn't want to worry ya."
"That's okay. But I still want to know." The other three, while still walking ahead, had their attention toward the conversation.
"It's just… you remember back in Prussia, when Galleth recognized his ma?"
"Mmhm. What about it?"
"Well…I think I recognized one of those two from earlier. The one that went on the boat."
"What? Really?" Sly was shocked. Why hadn't Tennessee mentioned this sooner?
"Yeah. That was Clair Cooper….my own ma."
"WHAT?!" Sly almost fell over. "That was YOUR mother back there?" Tennessee only nodded.
"I…don't remember my ma all that much. Died of poisoning when I was little. But I remember her always taking me to the port, gazing out at the sea as if waiting for someone. I never did figure out why. Well…at least until now."
"She was waiting for her mother, your grandmother." Sly finished. So, that was what the Thievius Raccoonus was hinting at. Tennessee's grandmother was going to die here soon, and thus never make it to America. But now the book wants to fix that. It was silent going back to the van, no one knowing what to say and Tennessee seemed to be deep in thought.
Back at the van, Galleth had moved into the back and was sleeping off the last of his headache while Murray was fixing up the bumper. The tires were replaced and from what they could tell, the axle was fixed too.
"Oh, hey guys! Welcome back!" Murray said, straightening up and stretching. "How'd it go?" Murray stayed silent as Bentley and Sly retold the story. "Wow! I didn't know you were Irish, Tennessee!"
"Meh, I didn't know much about that myself, to be honest." He replied, still a bit out of sorts with thoughts running rampant through his head. Not too long after, Galleth woke and had the story told to him too.
"I see. Then there seems to be a pattern coming across, doesn't there?" he asked.
"In what way? The relations or the…death part?" Murray asked back.
"Probably the death part." Sly replied, taking the Thievius Raccoonus out and sitting it on his lap. "So far, the book has taken us to two places where an ancestor was to die, but due to the book bringing us there, one was saved and the other was given a proper funeral. Also, their pages showed up in the Thievius Raccoonus. If we are here, and from what Tennessee said, then we can safely say that his grandmother died and never made it back to Clair." 'When she was supposed to.' He silently thought. He stared at the thick, ancient book, wheels turning in his head.
"It's getting to be dark. We should go find her and follow -"
"No." Salim interrupted, sternly. Everyone, except Rioichi, looked at him in shock.
"Um, what?" Sly started.
"We are not going after her. Whatever thoughts you have in your head about going after her and preventing her death, get rid of them."
"Wh-? B-but why?! The Thievius Raccoonus clearly wants us to-"
"No. There is no way a book can want anything, Sly."
"But, we saved Gilbert, didn't we? Why can't we save my granny too?" Tennessee asked quickly, and higher pitched.
"I'm sorry, young one. But remember what happened when we did save Gilbert? A paradox occurred, leaving Galleth incapacitated for hours, and even now the effects of the change have yet to fully pass. If we do save her, then there is no doubt you would have the same issue." Salim said. "No. It is best if we just stay here and find a way back to our own times and leave history as it is."
Tennessee was ready to retort, but was stopped by Rioichi. "As hard, mean, and as sad as it sounds, I have to agree with Salim." He said. "The risk of the aftereffects is far too great to resist." Rioichi left it at that in a voice that left no room for arguing. Tennessee was still very young. If this business left Galleth, a full growth Cooper in such a state, Rioichi was very worried as to what state it would leave their youngest. It didn't help that Tennessee often acted on his emotions, being as young as he was with not that much experience. Sly was not that much better. It was up to him and Salim to look out for them. Even if it meant hurting them like this.
Tennessee gawked at the two of them, while Sly starred at them in shock. He looked over at Tennessee worriedly.
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Tennessee didn't know what to say. He felt overly warm. His breaths were coming out in short puffs and he couldn't seem to get any more air in. his throat ached and his eyes began to burn as his vision began to blur. His heart dropped. He said nothing as he stood and took off in some direction. If anyone had said anything, he didn't hear him.
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Sly called out to Tennessee as he watched to other hurry away. Concerned, he stood, intending to follow. "Don't worry. He'll be back, once he has had time to decompress." Rioichi said, standing. "Now, let's get a camp set up. Night is soon upon us." Sly bit his lip, but slowly followed, helping build a campfire. He made up his mind to go find Tennessee later.
The rest of the evening was quiet, and eventually they fell asleep, except Sly. He couldn't even if he tried. He went and sat on a nearby rock, looking at the Thievius Raccoonus.
'There is no way a book can want anything.'
What Salim said replayed itself over, and over again in Sly's mind. With a deep breath, he shook his head. "No, you're wrong. The book IS alive. It DOES have a will. It wants us to do something." He thought for a moment, before steeling his eyes in resolve. "And as its current keeper, I am going to do it. Whether or not you agree with me, old man." Sly stood and began walking back toward town before a voice stopped him.
"Wait!" Sly looked back and saw Tennessee coming toward him. "Are you going?"
"I am."
"Then I'm coming to!" Tennessee looked angry now. "I don't care what Salim or Rioichi say. That is my granny, and I am going to help her, consequences be damned!" He said. "Besides, I may not remember much…but the look on ma's face as she looked out at the sea…I don't want to see that anymore."
"Then I guess we are doing this one solo. Ready, partner?"
"You darn tootin' I'm ready! Let's go cuz!" And with that the two were off, making it to the darkened streets of the town in record time.
"How are we supposed to find granny?" Tennessee whispered as they made their way to the town center where a huge statue stood. Sly responded by holding up the Thievius Raccoonus.
"Earlier, it was vibrating until I saw your grandmother." He replied. "I think we can use it to find her again." Tennessee was silent for a moment, before he looked at Sly, almost pleadingly.
"May I please be the one to hold it?" Sly did not protest. As soon as Tennessee had the Thievius Raccoonus, he held it to his chest. He wasn't sure how this would work, but he prayed to the ancient book itself. 'Please, please. Show me the way to her.'
The Thievius Raccoonus glowed lightly, responding almost immediately to its once owner happily. It vibrated in Tennessee's hand, pointing him, and by extension Sly, in the right direction. Roughly an hour and a half went by before the two found themselves at another port. But this one seemed to be hidden rather well. The book had stopped vibrating, so they knew that they were in the right place.
"What is that?" Tennessee asked.
"I don't know. Let's get a closer look." Sly responded. The two snuck closer to the ship, matching each other's skill like twins. The peaked around the boulder they were using for cover. The ship that was there wasn't very big, but it wasn't small either. The most notable thing about the ship though was the English flag, tied to the highest mast.
"What's an English ship doing in Ireland?" Tennessee asked, clutching the Thievius Raccoonus a little closer to him. Sly's eyes narrowed a bit.
"I'm not sure. But we are going to find out." Some movement caught his eye. "And soon too. Look." Tennessee followed Sly's gaze and saw his grandmother behind one of the crates, out of sight from the crew members. She had on long brown shorts, high boots, a green shirt and a faded orange jacket that looked more like a man's farming shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she sported two homemade, old-fashioned hand guns.
They watched as she studied the crew for a while, before pointing one of her guns toward the ship and firing. The bullet, however, did not hit the ship. Rather, it hit a barrel quite a ways away, at a very different angle than the one she had shot at.
"Holy-! Did she just do a curved shot?" Tennessee asked in awe.
"I think so."
"Wow! I've always wanted to do that but could never pull it off!"
"Well fantasize about it later. We have to hurry and follow her!" Sly said, watching as the woman took advantage of the sudden confusion and slipping into the ship. The two followed her, avoiding the crew and using the same entrance she did. The inside of the ship was musky and claustrophobic.
"We need to be really careful." Sly said.
"I think we should stay together as well." Tennessee added as they made their way slowly up the stairs. Sly couldn't have agreed more. Following the woman raccoon was tedious. Following the woman raccoon and avoiding the other crew members was difficult and tested all of their abilities. Doing so on a ship with very little places to hide and little time to do so along with all the objects just strewn about almost haphazardly? It was nearly impossible.
By the time they had managed to reach the area they last saw her enter, she had already gone through the door. Looking at the door's symbol, the two quickly found that it was the Captain's courters. The hid behind some barrels and waited. Not too long after, the Thievius Raccoonus began to shake violently in Tennessee's grasp.
Looking up and hurriedly surveying the area, Sly noticed a dark figure by the door. He couldn't make out any features, other than that the person was wearing a black cloak and was crouched and pouncing stance. Then, he noticed a glint. The person was holding a dagger. He and Tennessee watched as the person took out a small vial, and poured something onto the blade. Their breaths hitched in perfect sync. Poison.
Without looking at each other, they quickly moved. No words were needed now. They already knew what they needed to do. Before anyone could blink, Sly had knocked the figure unconscious and Tennessee had tossed the poisoned dagger off to the side, near the other side of the boat. Being exposed now, and having completed their mission, the two took off, back toward the exit. Good timing too, because as soon as they had left, the door opened.
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The red hair Cooper hurriedly made her way out of the Captain's room. She had successfully found the plans and tossed the parchments into the fire, destroying them forever. She also snagged some gold and jewels as well. She came out and stopped a moment, her heart jumping to her throat at she noticed a large black shape. She calmed a bit when she saw they were unconscious. Though she found it very weird that they were unconscious at such an odd location, she didn't waste much of her time on it. She needed to get out of here. She promised her daughter to follow her to America, after all. Forgoing to entry path, she simply jumped over the side and swam away, never noticing the poisoned dagger that would have taken her life.
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The sun was just beginning to rise when Sly and Tennessee made it back to camp. They were smiling wide, giddy. They had saved Tennessee's grandmother in one night, and did so all behind Salim and Rioichi's back. Slipping into their makeshift beds quietly, Sly watched happily as the Thievius Raccoonus glowed brilliantly and opened up to him, showing its new pages proudly.
Tennessee felt tears streaming down his face again. But this time, it was in happiness. He fell asleep, his own memories re-writing themselves. Memories of a fun-loving granny teaching him to shoot. Memories of his ma's smiling face and his pa's laughter replaced old memories of a mostly empty house with just him and his pa. His head didn't hurt, but his heart swelled in happiness. Salim and Rioichi were so wrong.
Sly closed the Thievius Raccoonus and drifted off to sleep himself, remembering the name he had just read.
"Priscilla Cooper."
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Chapter 4 done! I hope it was worth waiting for! As for a brief update, there will be two more chapters and a brief epilogue left before this story is completed. Thank you all for hanging on and dealing with my lazy bum for so long, but just a little more!
Priscilla's profile:
Name: Priscilla Cooper
Gender: Female
Cane: Twin pistols
Description: Tan fur with orange rings and brown eyes.
Extra: Priscilla can be quick to anger and is a very independent woman. Her favorite past time is music, song, and dancing. She also enjoys spoiling her family.