Chapter 1: Heist Ambush

What was it with Paris and these rat guards? I thought after everything with Le Paradox, I'd stop seeing them. Then again, there was the robot rats from last time. And this was some of Le Paradox's extra flunkies we're stealing from, so it sort of makes sense.

Using my binocucom, I zoomed in on where the heist was to be pulled off. "Okay, everyone is in position," Bentley announced on the earpiece. "Murray will create a distraction for the thugs out front and Sly sneaks in through the vent. You got that tear gas bomb on you, right Sly?" I slip my hand into my satchel to check. The small, olive sized bomb was there, alongside the white gem I held onto. "Yep."

"Perfect. We'll definitely be needed that for the heist. Just be sure to wait for the right opportunity to use it, Sly."

"OK then. Just let me know when I can start moving through the vent."

Just as soon as the line cut, I saw Murray throwing punches at the guards. He quickly attracted the other thugs' attention.

"Carmelita will be there to assist shortly. Now's your chance, Sly. Go to the vent." I quickly Rail Walked across the wires.

The vent that I had to crawl through eventually entered my line of sight. There it was. My unique entrance inside was right there.

I started crawling through the vent. "OK Bentley, I'm going through the vent now. What's the plan for when I'm inside?"

"Find the office. That's where Le Paradox's associates will be. Drop the bomb inside when you get there and hightail it out of there. Then, we'll play our next move."

"Got it. I'm on my way to the office now."

I made my way inside the office and dropped the bomb, hurrying out as fast as I could to avoid the guards beating me up too much.

There was a loud explosion and then the sound of shouts and rumbling feet.

"Nice work, Sly. They'll be running out like little girls and-"

"Sly! We need some help out here!" Carmelita's voice came on. "Whatever these... these things are, my shock pistol does nothing to them!"

"And my fists go right through them!" Murray's voice boomed. I need to ask Bentley to put a volume switch on these. "HElp us out, pal!"

"Carmelita? Murray? What's going on out there?" I asked.

"Get out here and find out, ringtail!"

"Okay, I'm on my way!"

I quickly scurried out of the vent, wondering to myself what exactly were Murray and Carmelita fighting out there. Especially when they said that their attacks were doing nothing to whatever's attacking them.

I arrived to find Murray and Carmelita fighting the same shadow creatures I fought with Sora. I think he called them Heartless, and he said that the cane wouldn't help much. I didn't think I'd see them again.

But they were everywhere. What were they even doing here?

Don't let them near your heart!

Those words suddenly rang through my mind. They were Sora's own words when I had that dream. He said not to let them get near my heart. But how am I supposed to fight back against these things? Sora had this strange key-like sword in that dream and he went through these Heartless like they were nothing. My cane didn't even make a scratch on them.

I then remembered the jewel, how Bentley said it had massive amounts of energy inside it. Maybe it could help me?

"Sly! Need some help!" I heard Murray shout. The Heartless were swarming him. Without thinking, I came at them with the gem firmly in my left hand. All I could think of suddenly was helping Murray.

I didn't realize what happened next until I saw Murray staring at me with wide eyes. All of the Heatless had been destroyed. I could feel my body tingle with power, unlike anything I've ever felt. Then, I looked down at my cane and I was shocked.

My cane... almost didn't look like my cane anymore. The hook was the same as was the neck, but the base... was more of a handle made of a raccoon tail and a medalion on a black string. The end was a wire with my signature calling card on the end.

"Whoa! What happened to your cane, Sly?!" Murray asked.

I stared at my cane with a perplexed expression on my face. What DID happen to my cane? I barely recognized it.

"I... I honestly have no idea, Murray."

Then I remembered Sora's similar key-shaped sword. Maybe I was using one too?

"Sly!" I heard Carmelita yell. The Heartless that were attacking her were coming at me now. Without thinking, I swatted back at them with my new weapon. One swipe and they vanished. These monsters seemed to be attracted to this weapon, like they're afraid of it.

Once they were gone, the weapon glowed and the power I felt stopped. Then, the weapon turned back into my cane.

Carmelita gave me a very surprised stare. Though, who could blame her, really? I mean, I did just take down those Heartless like they were nothing.

"What exactly happened to your cane there, Sly?" She asked. "I didn't even recognize it until those things disappeared!"

"To be honest, that's exactly what I want to know," I said.

What is going on? I wouldn't be surprised if the connection between the strange things that have happened since I got the jewel goes deeper than what I already know.

"Is everyone okay?" Penelope's voice came up. "We picked up strange energy and activity."

"Y-yeah, it's all good. I took care of it."

"What? How?" Bentley asked.

"I think it had something to do with this ge-"

"Wait! Sly, there's some... kind of energy centered on you!"

"Wha-?" Suddenly, I felt my feet sinking.

"Sly, what's going on over there?! I don't know what this energy is, but it's going off the charts!" Bentley exclaimed.

"I think this energy is the same stuff from the jewel. There has to be something about it that we just don't know."

I tried to keep my cool as something cold and... I didn't know how to describe it, but it was wrapping around my feet.

"You mean you took the jewel with you?"

"Hang on, Sly!" Murray interrupted, before he suddenly grabbed me and yanked me up. That's when I saw it. It was some kind of... pool of purple aura that didn't look safe to touch.

"What's that?" Carmelita questioned, stepping away from it.

"What's happening now?!" Bentley called. "The energy is now going crazy!"

"You may want to look for yourself." I took out my binocucom and took a snap shot of the pool.

"What do you make of this, Bentley?"

"I... I can't make heads or tails of what exactly that is! It's definitely something I've never seen before in my life!" Bentley exclaimed. The worry in his voice definitely didn't calm down my nerves, not even a little bit.

Suddenly, there is some kind of force that threw Murray and Carmelita back. I was about to run to them to make sure they're okay, but the pool just got bigger and I felt myself being pulled in. No matter how hard I tried to get free, I just continued to sink.

I was terrified, even more than when I was in the grip of Dr. M's monster. I continued to thrash, but the grip from this pool just got tighter until I could only use my hands. My left hand went into my satchel and I felt that gem. It felt warmer than usual and I could sense something different. Someone else, reaching out to me. I didn't know why, but one name crossed my mind before everything suddenly went white.

"... Sora..."

End Chapter