//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Let the Hunt Begin // Story: Sly Cooper and the Silver Dust // by Kingdom Harmony //------------------------------// Let the Hunt Begin “Criminal!” Sly heard a familiar voice call out right after he started down the fire escape. Sly looked in the direction of the voice and saw Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox fall out of the sky and land on the roof of a neighboring building. “Stop right there Ringtail, I caught you red handed.” “Carmelita,” Sly greeted the inspector, “long time no see. That a new blaster? Really brings out the color of your eyes.” “This shock pistol packs a paralyzing punch,” Inspector Fox informed. “You should try it, it might knock you out of your crime spree.” “And give up a our little rendezvou?” Sly joked. “Plenty of time for that when you're safely behind bars.” Carmelita joked back. “Sorry but I can’t stick around. I just came to borrow a little something. See you around,” Sly said and jumped off the side of the fire escape as Carmelita shot at him. He used his cane to hook onto the side before hitting the ground to slow his descent and then swung off on to the ground. Carmelita wasn’t about to give up and began blasting at Sly again. Sly weaved in and out of the police cars to avoid the blasts and as he drew close to the exit Murray pulled up with the van and the doors swang open. Sly jumped in and shut the doors as the van began to pull away. “Not this time!” Carmelita yelled as she quickly began to charge a stronger blast with her shock pistol and took aim it at the van. As she pulled the trigger something fell on top of the barrel of the gun, throwing off her aim so that she hit the ground. Once the dust cloud from the blast settled, Sly and the van were gone. “Cooper!” Carmelita screamed. After a few deep breaths she looked for what hit her gun. She found the object on the ground rather quickly. “A rock?” she observed aloud and looked up at the sky where it fell from. There was nothing except for two small silver clouds shimmering in the night sky, about to fade into the horizon. “Carmelita, are you hurt?” Twilight asked, coming over to her. “Just my pride,” Carmelita responded. “Although something is bugging me.” She took out her walkie talkie and spoke into it. “Do we know what he stole?” “Not yet mam,” said a voice on the other side. “Well, find out and report it to me on the double, and if you find one of his calling cards bring directly it to me. I will be waiting in Director’s Barkley’s office,” Carmelita ordered. “Is that understood?” “Yes mam!” The voice replied and Carmelita hooked the walkie talkie back onto her belt. “Twilight, follow me,” Carmelita commanded. “Oh, okay,” Twilight quickly responded. “Uh, if I may ask, what was bothering you?” “IS, it is still is bothering me,” Carmelita answered. “This heist is seriously out of Sly’s M.O. But not only did I catch him here in the act, but he confessed right to me.” “I’m not sure I follow you,” Twilight replied. “In every known case, Sly has only stolen from either confirmed or suspected criminals or corrupt politicians,” Carmelita explained. “I seriously doubt he would steal from anyone else. He thinks there’s some kind of honor about how he acts.” “So you think he’s being framed?” Twilight asked. “Well, either that, or he had no other option.” Carmelita answered as they reached the director’s office. “Inspector!” an officer called out. “We found this in the archives.” He handed Carmelita a calling card. “Good work, have you figured out what he stole yet? “Not yet, but we we should know soon,” he responded. “Okay, notify me as soon as you know,” Carmelita ordered. “Yes mam!” the officer said before leaving. Carmelita examined the calling card and found a small fold on it. It was unknown to most, but Sly enjoyed toying with Carmelita so much that he started to leave her messages in his calling cards. Ironically they actually did come in handy from time to time. He would occasionally inform her on where to look for evidence to convict other criminals. Keeping this in mind only a select few knew about this, so they could prevent these criminals from disposing of the card. Carmelita peeled up the fold and read the message. Sorry, but I had to borrow this file. If you want it back sooner, then you’ll just have to track me down. Besides I know you want these five taken down just as much as I do. Sly Carmelita thought about that last part, as the officer returned. “Inspector,” he began, “we’ve searched the entire building and the only thing missing was one case file.” “Which one?” Carmelita inquired. “The file detailing Sir Raleigh Frog’s possible connections to the Fiendish Five.” “Of course!” Carmelita exclaimed shocking both the officer and Twilight. Carmelita cleared her throat and spoke up once again. “Thank you, you are now dismissed.” “Yes mam,” the officer said and left. “What was that about?” Twilight asked. “He trying to avenge his family,” Carmelita explained. “And if we’re lucky we can use this.” Carmelita smiled. “We may be able to take down both Fiendish Five and Sly.” ----------------------------- Murray quickly parked the van and the gang cleared out. Bentley quickly pressed the button to hide the van in the ground. Afterwards the gang quickly ran into the house and Bentley prepared to put the house in lockdown, where it too is is hidden in the ground, when Sly stopped them. "Where's Silver?" he asked in panic. Bentley and Murray looked at each other confused. "He's not in his room?" Bentley asked. "No I just looked.” Sly continued. “Maybe he’s…” Murray began before the was a loud creak sound. The three immediately turned in the direction of the sound and saw Silver trying to sneak past them. “Where…” Sly started before being interrupted. “Hold that thought,” Bentley said and immediately put the house into lockdown. The four waited a few seconds as the house was lowered into the ground and the fake ground closed over them. “Where did you go!?” Sly yelled at Silver. “I...I…”Silver started. “Calm down Sly,” Murray interrupted. “Silver, it okay, just tell us where you went.” “I followed you guys,” Silver admitted sheepishly. Both Murray and Sly looked at Silver in shock. “How?” Sly finally asked. “Well,” Silver quietly said as he diverted eye contact and stretched out his wings. “So you do know how to fly already!” Bentley called out. “Already?” Sly repeated, puzzled and looked over to Murray who was as lost as him. “You may not know that much about pegasi,” Bentley started to explain, “but even you guys should know that they can fly.” “Oh,” Sly said, feeling like an idiot. “A bit slow, huh dad?” Silver joked. Sly gave Silver a stern look. "Sliver, you should have stayed home like we told you," He said firmly. “I'm sorry," Silver apologized with tears beginning to from in his eyes. "I was just worried about you. I... I just... just can't lose you too." Sly got onto one knee and crouched down to Silver's level. "No, I'm sorry," Sly started. "I should have thought about that. Just promise you won't sneak out again and I'll make sure that you no longer have to worry." Silver wiped the water out of his eyes. "O...okay. I promise," He mumbled. “Okay, do you know why we had to break into the police station today?” Sly asked. “No really,” Silver admitted. “Just something about tracking down some criminals.” “Not just any criminals,” Sly responded, “the Fiendish Five. A group of five international criminals at the top of Interpol's most wanted list. Remember about what I said about my parents?” Silver nodded. “Well Clockwerk is their leader. And on top of what they did to my parents, they also stole a book filled with the Cooper techniques of my ancestors. When our children turn eight we help them learn it’s techniques, however, it was stolen before I got the chance, and now your eight too. So I say it’s high time we get it back and put them behind bars.” Silver nodded, not sure how to feel. He was excited to learn the Cooper techniques, but wasn’t sure that he could. He agreed that these monsters should be behind bars, but wasn’t sure he was ready to face them yet. Sly probably wouldn’t even let him come along anyway, but then he be too worried about them to get any rest. “Now go pack your things, we leave first thing tomorrow,” Sly interrupted Silvers train of thought. Silver looked up to Sly in shock. “I’m coming?” he asked. “Of course,” Sly answered. “We can’t leave you here alone, and don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.” Silver jumped for joy and ran into his room to pack. “We should do the same,” Sly addressed the others. “Tomorrow we leave for Wales and Sir Raleigh’s Resort.” To Be Continued...