I woke up with my head throbbing, eyesight blurry and taking gasps of air as if I had stopped breathing for a second. It was like I was drunk last night and recovering from a hangover. What just happened? The Heartless, the darkness, Sora... Was it all just a dream? Did I only imagine meeting Sora? No, it felt too real to have been a dream, and my body hurt where the Heartless hit. Then, I noticed a faint glow. On a nightstand I had in the hideout was that large, white gem. The one that mysteriously appeared in my hand on that night of the meteor shower. That's right, I fell as soon as it happened, then I met Sora. It had to be connected.

I got up from my bed in the hideout and placed my favorite cap on. Picking up my backpack, cane and the jewel, I went to Bentley and Penelope's lab.

"Morning, lovebirds," I called. My best bud and his girlfriend turned to me in surprise.

"Sly, you're awake!" Penelope said in relief.

"You've been out for almost a whole day, pal!" Bentley pointed out. "How on Earth could you have fallen after using the Ninja Spire Jump after so many times?" There was no way I could tell Bentley and Penelope about Sora. They'd never believe me.

"I don't know, to be honest," I told them. "I just suddenly felt dizzy after this appeared." I showed them the white gem.

"I think that jewel is at the center of what happened that night. Could you see if you can find anything on it?"

"I've never seen anything like this, but Penelope and I will take a look. If we find anything interesting, we'll call."

Bentley took the jewel from me and the two went to their genius work. I decided to see how Murray and Carmelita were doing. I found both of them in our makeshift training room. When I entered, Murray was the first to notice me and then he crushed me in his signature hug.

"Sly, Ol' Chum, you're okay!" he yelled in joy.

"Sly Cooper, do you know how much you worried me?!" my sweet Carmelita scolded me angrily, but with concern as well.

"Are you sure you're alright, Ringtail? You did end up with quite a bump on your head."

"I promise, I'm fine. Last night, I just felt dizzy. Bentley and Penelope are working out an explanation."

"If you say so, Sly," Murray commented.

It was a few minutes later while snacking on what was available (I hadn't realized how hungry I was earlier) when Bentley and Penelope came into the room.

"Sly, this gem has us baffled," Penelope started.

"What do you mean? Did you find anything at all? I would be very surprised if you two, some of the smartest people I know, couldn't find a thing."

"Well, not on the Internet, at least," Bentley explained. "We looked through everything that I as tied to gemstones, even mythical meanings, but there's nothing about the gem you found, Sly. Penelope and I ran a few experiments of our own, and all we can say is that this jewel has some crazy amount of energy in it. There's enough power to maybe run a continent!"

"What?! Is that possible?!"

"After what we've been through, I'm not completely surprised," Carmelita commented.

"Also, we have confirmed that this gem may not be of this world," Penelope added.

"Not of our world?" Murray questioned.

"We mean it could be from another planet, or even another dimension! This gem has the power to do that!"

"Is the energy in one gem really that powerful?" Carmelita asked in surprise.

"I asked the same question," Bentley said, "but the energy readings can't be lying. If any of you have info on what is going on here, let me or Penelope know."

So this gem... Came from another world or another dimension entirely. Does that mean Sora... is from another world too? Then... how was it possible we had met? Was it really the gem's power?

"Sly, are you okay?" Bentley asked.

"I'm fine, Bentley. Just trying to take this in after all that happened that night."

"As long as you're okay. Remember, out heist is tonight." Right. Our heist on those old associates of Le Paradox is tonight.

"This one has me excited. Are you ready to go over the plan, or do you need more time?"

"N-no, I'm good. I have it mapped out by heart."

"Hang on, Sly. We should give you a few more mintures to rest."

"Come on, mom. Stop worrying. I'm perfectly alright."

"If you say so. If we're all ready, I say we should head out and start this heist."