Scrooge sat sadly in the sitting room with Carmelita and Coco. "Ah'm afraid what ah learned isn't...entirely pleasant," he offered sadly. "Nor is it...hopeful."
Carmelita swallowed convulsively. "Tell me."
"His physical memory is spot on," Scrooge explained. "Every Cooper technique, every skill he ever developed, every trick of the thieving trade...it still comes as naturally to him as breathing, and without even thought. Tested all of them as discreetly as ah could, and he didn'a even realize he was doing it half the time. Even that laser slide move..." He shook his head in amazement. "And he doesn't even remember enough ta tell me how it works."
"That's...good, right?" Coco asked hopefully.
"...unfortunately, no," Scrooge replied sadly. "If he didn'a remember some of it, we could have used teaching it to him again as a way to bring back other memories, like when he learned it th' first time. But it's all there...and didn'a bring back any memories through practice. I...I'm afraid this leads to th' bad news."
"...go on," Carmelita managed to say, steeling herself to keep her voice from breaking.
"Ah have noo idea how ta get his memories back, ta jog his memory ta bring him back," Scrooge explained. "It might come back on his own someday, it might not...but there's nothin' ah can do. Ah seen this before...and all we can do is wait and hope."
Coco's ears fell flat against her skull as her eyes began to water. "Is...isn't there anything we can do?" she asked hopefully.
"Only thing that can be done fer him is ta stay with him," Scrooge offered sadly. "Keep him with those who love and care fer him the most, answer whatever questions ya can, and...be there fer him. But fer now...his past is lost."
Carmelita let out a heavy sigh. "If that's all we can do..." she murmured sadly.
Scrooge stood up and rested a hand on Carmelita's. "Ah know this is gonna be hard for ye. If ye need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask."
It wasn't a pleasant thing to hear. The raccoon I knew as Dad was...gone, and an echo left in his place, an echo that might someday become him again. It seemed especially hard for Mom, though. I admit I'm not entirely sure why. Mom tried to explain it a couple of times, but I didn't really get it.
As Mom went with Uncle Scrooge to make arrangements as far as where we'd live - her apartment back in Paris was simply too small for three, and the hideout wasn't appropriate for a cop - I went to deliver the news to everyone else. It wasn't a pleasant conversation...but one bit of it gave me a bit of hope.
"...and that's how it is," Coco concluded as she finished telling the others through video conference what Sly's state was. "I...I don't know what to do..."
"The old duck's advice is the wisest," Panda King offered gently. "Stay with him, and he will remember. Do not lose faith."
"Yeah!" Murray added from the same screen. "Sly's as tough as they come. He's not gonna let something like this slow him down for long!"
"And maybe it can be a good thing," Muggshot suggested. "If he's lost his memory, he's a new person by law. The two of you can stick with yer Mom, and live as a family."
"His memory will come back in time," Mrs. Ruby agreed. "The stars speak of great fate awaiting you all, and the stars do not lie!"
"I...I just wish there was something more we could do for him," Bentley spoke up morosely. "For...all of you."
"...maybe there is," Penelope murmured thoughtfully, resting her hand on Bentley's shoulder. "If you'll lend us the Thievius Raccoonus."
"Huh?" Coco asked in surprise. "You have an idea?"
"Maybe a crazy one," Penelope admitted. "But crazy ideas seems to be what this Gang does best. Scrooge said Sly's lost his past, right? Well...what if we were to go find it for him and bring it back to him?"
Coco tilted her head in confusion. "I'm not sure I understand-"
"Circuits and surge protectors!" Bentley suddenly yelped out. "Are you suggesting building a time machine to fix Cooper's amnesia?"
"Why not?" Penelope suggested archly. "Is it any crazier than anything you've done before? We could go back and collect a video record of Sly's entire life and play it super fast for him to spark his memories...or bring him through from the past to refresh his future self's memory...or just prevent him from getting that first head injury from Dr. M's frankenstein-ish creature! One of those is bound to work!"
"And what about the causality paradox from not having a reason to build a time machine after fixing Sly's memory?" Murray asked curiously. "And thus not going back to fix it?" He noticed everyone turning to stare at him. "What? Chrono Trigger's an awesome game!"
"Okay, so preventing his amnesia is problematic," Penelope allowed. "Unless I manage to let past me see future me taking action, making her realize she needs a time machine to go back and fix it so it's just a causality loop..."
"...it's worth a shot," Coco allowed hopefully, desperate to cling to any chance that Sly would remember...
Deik-Beck crawled along the ceiling, staring down at where Sly was sleeping peacefully. The robot had made its way here after hearing out Scrooge's conversation with Carmelita and Coco, and had scurried here as soon as it was unobserved. Having disconnected all security systems, the tiny metal crab's eyes glowed red in the darkness. "This is not your end, Sly Cooper," the voice echoed softly in the dark room. "You brought about my downfall. If I can not bring an end to your legend, then I shall see to it that no one else will. I will not let this Dr. M succeed where I failed. Your memory will return, and your legend will be eternal. Clockwerk was conquered by Cooper...and so none shall conquer Cooper.
"Thus says Clockwerk."
Thus says Clockwerk.
Knew it
Clockwerk's not one of those bad guys you want to see redeemed, so I'm not sure how to feel about that last part. On one hand, he's not technically redeemed. On the other... he pretty much declared to the world he was gonna be the silent supporter of the Coopers.
I fully expect to see Clockwerk as the true final boss of the story... or at least a serious pain in Sly's ass by then.
8246861
To be fair, it wasn't that hard to see. Tats kinda laid the foreshadowing on a bit thick.
Good to see that somebody knew what trying to prevent the amnesia in the first place could cause.
And I can't deny Clockwerk's ego... or is it respect? He will not let the legacy that brought him down be defeated, as that would weaken his own defeat and legacy.
8246863
I hope so, too. I really was a shame that best villain went away with the first game. I wouldn't mind seeing return in some form.
that last bit: remember how I said that Deik-Beck was going to be center-stage in a "nature vs nurture" sort of deal (his growing care for Coco and company vs his Clockwerk programing)? ...I still stand behind that declaration
8246896
Yep, definitely called right
Chrono Trigger is still as good as I remember it anyway, it's far easier easier for me to defeat the son of sun in any case. Try beating the game in less than eight hours without a new game plus file.
Scrooge is a Time Lord... so he would definitely know if he's seen something like this before. He's seen it many 'times', like Clockwerk in fact. He rewrites history and solves multiple mysteries.
8246878
It's a bit of both. A grudging respect for the one who was able to overcome centuries of planning and preparation, thinking that every scenario had been accounted for, every possibility recognized and acknowledged, only for them to ultimately end it through means not expected, and thus cement their legend and legacy.
Guess we can't say all his problems are in the past just yet.
Seems muscle memory here is kind of a bad thing.
And cue the secret villain entrance just like Clockwerk.
Ok the pet robo crab is really what is left of clockwerk, threw me I though it was a puppet for the scorpian guy and the whole clockwerk angle was a cover up to avoid suspicion.
True and anyone that has played it and say othereways is lieing.
Oh, and Tats what are the odds for a Chrono crossover?
8246878
Pretty much it boils down to If I can't beat him then I will make sure no-one will!
This has probably already been asked a dozen times by now, but... is the new Ducktales going to have any influence on this (or another) story?
and so the motive is in the open. also a chrono trigger/cross crossover would be very awesome as there aren't many of them that got very far
So... He's taking a page from Negaduck?
Oooohoohoohoo... oh my, that... what an ending to this chapter, hehehe, good show!
good show!
So... If you can't beat em, make sure no one else can either?
Well then. It was pretty obvious that there was some of Clockwerk in the little bot, but now it seems like his full consciousness is in there.
I KNEW IT!
8247090
8246863
I think it's less about him trying to redeem himself, to him regaining his honor. I don't think he cares enough to even want to be redeemed.
I thought something was up with that metal crab! Who here want's to send him to a clambake?
8246863
I doubt it's him being 'Redeemed' persay. It's more he's saying that since Sly defeated him, he's making sure that no one will. He wants to make his defeat worthwhile.
Also Deick-Deick may just be carrying Clockwerk's programming, sort of holding his spirit without the little crab bot even truly knowing what he's got in his core.
Somepony put a lightbulb over my head! WE CAN STILL GET OUR PIRATE LEVEL!!!!!!!!
And who does not want to see Carmelita in swashbuckling attire adorably provided by Coco?
Am I confused on why Clockwork is now like 'I don't want Cooper being like this'? Kind of. Am I shocked that Clockwork actually wants to help Cooper get his memories back? A little. Am I pissed that people want Clockwork as the final boss when it should clearly be Seft because he was the original cause for Coco to appear? A lot. Do I actually Clockwork wanting to be a supporter of Coopers okay? Yeah.
Keep up the good work Tats
That ending scene.
Now, a lot of us have said it, but Imma play it anyway:
And surprise surprise, the villain (or anti-villain, in this case) reveals himself.
He's got good taste, and yet I imagine the gang running into the Doctor the moment they screw with time...Or maybe one of those testicle beings from Rick and Morty.
8246863
I have a feeling the eternal feud between Clockwerk and the Coppers ended once Sly and Coco beat the ever living tar out of him, and then sunk his body into the deepest, darkest hole on the planet. This is because Clockwerk is obsessed with immortality, and if he cannot be the immortal opponent to the greatest family of thieves with his greatest accomplishment being the extermination of said family, then he shall ensure the legacy of the coopers—and this his own—endures for all time.
8247296
same
8247210
*point gun at head* try it and you will piss off a lot of people mad
.
.
.
.
.....and you'll make Coco cry
8246948
It's still my favorite game of all time after all these years.
If your asking about a PWNY Chrono Trigger story, the answer is no unless Tats revises the list solidified at the end of Order and Chaos. If you're wondering about a more general Crossover, then I couldn't say, as I'm not Tatsurou and don't speak for him. If I had to guess at the moment though, then I'd peg one as unlikely, but possible.
8247377
*Lights fire.*
Until he betrays Coco. Then it will be justified.
8247405
More in general. If done right it would worke vary well whit Starlight.
I could see her beeing raised along whit Magus by Ozzy and the mystics wich would feed in to the whole 'colective vs individual' thing and she would be able to open Gates whitout the Gatekey. That would be kinda broken as now you kan have multible partys moving around freely as you in the end game would have Epoch, the Gatekey and Starlight to jump trough time whit.
How Chrono Cross would work out I have no ide.
See, I want to believe that Clockwerk is doing this out of respect and ego, but there is a part of me that thinks the emotion-magic-fueled remnant of a robot has gone soft from almost literally 24/7 exposure to one of the most positive, most emotional, and most magical creatures on the planet. Either way his thoughts are good justification in Colckwerk's mind. I wouldn't want to admit I was going soft either.
Also totally thought Clocky was going to go all headcrab on Sly.
So, because he lost to Sly, Clockwerk will make sure no one else beats him, as he wanted either his legend to be eternal, or Sly's legend. I'm getting a Vegeta vibe from this new Clockwerk.
8246863
The lovely thing about Tatsurou's fanfictions is that he does believable characater growth for villains in such a way that you want to see them redeemed.
8247327
You have to remember though, that Clockwerk has been beaten before, by every cooper he has faced. He is not one to throw in the towel because he got beaten again.
But he sure as hell won't let let someone else win where he has failed. The cooper legacy must continue so he may one day best it. I think that is his reasoning. That is the canonical reason why he left sly alive after killing his parents, it wouldn't be a win otherwise.
8248408
Except he hasn't faced every Cooper ever in the past. He's been there watching and shadowing them, but there's no evidence he confronted them directly.
8248416
I didn't mean every cooper, but I'm pretty sure that in his boss battle in the first game, some of his dialogue suggests that he had fought some of the coopers, and had been bested.
*Fistbumps Murray.* Indeed it is!!
That ending scene... and suddenly all the Clockwerk easter eggs in Thieves in Time make more sense....
So, the "Thieves in Time" arc is going to focus on getting Sly's memory back?
Will Penelope still betray the gang?
Deik-Beck/Clockwerk has the same goal as Nega Duck, the jerk.
(Or, maybe Deik-Beck is not Clockwerk, but is working for Clockwerk?)
And, not to sound impatient, what about Seft?
8248958
He'll show up again.
That ending tho...
That's... noble, I guess...?
gulp
8247477
*dodges* well you'll still have to get through me *eyes glow red* and I don't go down easy *spawns a 1000 Zalgos gaster blasters* SO GAME ON!
8249459
Let's just wait and see. After all, neither of us is the mastermind behind this fic. I'd rather not flambe' anyone until I have all the facts.
8249464
yes agreed and beside even if he betrays them coco would get first crack him any way am i right?
oh and child Y̴̘͍͊́͌͆̀͐́̒̆͗̔͘͝͝ȯ̵̯͕̻͖̱͚̓̆́̋̾͆̕Ư̵̧̞̠̖͙̭̈́̾̎̐̽̏̐̑ȓ̶̢̢̬̪̦̋̓̎͛͌͆̿̽͘͝ ̴̰͕̩̮̃̔͊͋̌͂̾̿̕͠͝A̸̳̬͉̜̔́́͐̈́́͌̇̂̿̋̕͘͝ ̶̧͇͙͔̪̟͖̙̳̪̟̹͑̅T̴̛̳͈̃͌͋̇͒̕h̶̪̬͙̺̫͍͍͈̋̓͛̋̾̐͊̂̓͑́̊͊ơ̵̢̧͎̱̺̙̱̖̯̼̺͔̭̮͠Ù̴̧̙͙̹͕̋͝S̸̗̲̩̝͂̊́͂̚ͅa̵̢̜͔̜̤̪̜͌̍̃̄̒̂̿ṉ̵̥͇͋̿̿̃̀̒̉̾̿̔̎͂̕Ḏ̸̳͊͋̃̑͆̾̓̑͘͝ ̶͕̮̻̫̳͈͚͔̹͇̦̩̩͑̇͐̇̅̊̅̀͌͝Y̶̧̤̥͓̣̠͕͔͊́͝ȩ̶̨̛̙̱̥͎̙͇̃̄̌̀̈́̍͛̎̃̃̀͘͝Ä̸͕͎̑̋̈́̂̌͒͐̕͝͠R̴̙͙̟̫̺̉s̷̡̘̖̼̝͖̘̳͙͈̫̠̓̆̋͋̋̄̌ ̷̪͇̤̠͍͇̲̫̖̦̲̥̙̟͆ẗ̶̰̪̣̭͈̟̲̭̙̩̭̩̃͛̾̋̈͒̈́̓̀̒̈́̈́͝Ó̵̻̝̬̿̾̈͑͑̂̐̏̈́̔̑̋̕͜͝ ̵͔̫̝̪̙̪͐̽́̑͗̀̀̓̚͠ÿ̶̢̨̳̫̫̜̲̹̯̼̮̾͠Ư̷̧̓́͗̌̃̈̌͋̕̚͝O̸̧̯̻̱͙͈̼̭͂̒̀̓̇̊͋̊n̵̟̟̂̐̍̃͐̓͌͠͝ͅḡ̷̦̜̯̠̱̺͚͔͇̫̝̻̻̮̀̓̿̀̆̾̔͋̉͗͆͘͜͝ ̸̨̙̲̳͋̔̾͊͘͝T̸̢̛̘̳̻͙͈͖̜̙̗̳̔͛͋͑̆͗͗͜͜͝͠͠o̶͉̤͍̻͑̊̊̀̐̿ ̶͓͕̥̜̅̊͛̐Ḛ̴͖̥̪̞̱̹̭̋̃̎̋̓͌̌̌̾̄̽̿͌̈́͊v̵͕̱͉̬́̒̾͝͝e̴̡̧̢͚̝̬̥̝̺̣̬͎̤͙̲̋́͊͊͐̈́͘N̶̡̡̨̡͙̗̱͕̥̖̬̘̱̹̄̎̃̒̅̀͋̅ ̴̪̱͚́m̴̬̬̻̘̠̗͂̄̀̄̽̚A̵̢̛͈̫̬̹̜̳̝̗̝̯͓͇̚k̴̘̟͚̖̱͚̬̝̣͂̐́̿̍͊̑̑͂͑͐̚͘͝͠ȩ̸̧̭̤̱̺̰̗̍̉̈́̌̈̆͌̂̇̈́̑̚ ̴̡̲̗̰̪̟͍͗̑́̒ ̴͎̱̩̦͛̑̄͐̽͋̾̓
̸̡̼͇͙̲͉̱̣̫̦̟̙̀̑̔̈́̊́̃̏̆́̈́̈̚ͅą̶̠̭͇̗̌̇̎́̄̀̔ ̷̨̙̝̼̐̃͐̾̇͐̿̿͊́͠͠S̸̡͖͔̝͕̗̫͔͈̀̂̈́́͒̄͌͛̽̈́͘̚͘͝c̷̰̣̩͉̦̞̳̐͂͗̑̑̀͑̽̓͊̑͒͘ͅr̴̟͓̣̳̥̝̰̮̘̫̣̘̖͋̽̎̈̐̌͐͜͜A̸̢̮̤͙͚̯̗͚͕̬̰͓͊̚ċ̵͚̜̖͔͛͆H̸͉͌̀̈̌͘
Makes sense. If Sigma made a comeback it would make sense for Clockwerk to do the same.
8251055
Yeah, the color never stays constant.
Its like Davis Motomoya's hair from Digimon; one moment it looks brown, then next its red.
Another day, another PWNY story finished... or at least as much as what currently exists...