The next morning Sly and I were informed about what happened to our parents, but no details at all were given to us. Breakfast was quiet, at least Sly was. The room itself was loud and busy with the other boys in the orphanage going about their morning. It was then I noticed a certain Pink Hippo walking back for… Forths was it now?

”Well...might as well start this off…” I thought to myself.

I got up, telling Sly I was gonna walk around as I followed the Pink Hippo. “I swear kid, you got a never ending appetite.” I heard the lady giving out the food say as she gave Murray another plate full.

“Heh, just a big eater is all.” Murray replied, happily taking the plate.

“As long as it isn’t going to waste.” She said.

Murray was walking back to his table, and I took this moment to say hi. “Hello.” I said politely.

“Hey.” He said, looking at me. “Hey, you’re the new kid, and your brother right?” He asked.

“Yep, the names Kite.” I said politely, not wanting to reveal my last name in public. “And your...Murray correct?”

“Yeah...How’d you know that?”

“I hear plenty of names, and your’s is apart of them...mostly because some kids say you can out eat anyone.”

“Heh, guilty as charged. So, if it’s not too hard to talk about.. How’d you and your brother end up here?”

I looked down sadly. “It’s...a long story...and I don’t want to talk about it yet…” I sighed out sadly. “So...not to bring down the mood, how have you been?” I asked honestly.

“Good. Fat. The usual.” They shrugged.

“Not fat, just well built.” I corrected. “But I’m glad your doing well.”

“Heh, Please. I know I’m fat, I’m a hippo, if I wasn’t fat it would be a health problem. So Kite, how’s your brother holding up?” Murry asked, looking passed me. Sly was barely eating, just sitting there mostly.

“He’s…” I sighed out, Murray seeing my slightly struggle to keep my emotions in check. “He’s taking it hard...um...want to meet him? And...do you know anyone else here that...I could talk to?” I asked, not wanting to sound imposing but just want friends.

“Lots, but you look like a bookworm, right?”

“I didn’t know books had worms.” I joked. “Sorry for bad joke, but I do enjoy a good book from time to time.”

“Heh, knew it. Then you’ll wanna talk to Bently over there, the turtle with the huge glasses. Shy type but helps me out on the school work and I keep the Rat Group off his back.” Looking across the lunch table, the Rat Group only had one Rat kid, the rest were a labrador pup, a skunk, and a porcupine. “They’re not nice kids. I hear their parents dropped them off here because they were too much for them. Thankfully the Rat, Pepper, has a bizarre fear of large stomachs.” Murray said, slapping their large gut.

I chuckled warmly. “Alright. I’ll go meet with Bentley...and I know it’s a little weird, but can you say hi to my big brother? He...needs someone while I’m not by his side.”

“I will, but later. I’ve seen that look on a few of the kids here. It’s best to give him a day or two beforehand. I doubt he’d even talk to me if I did right now.” With that, Murray headed to their seat. They might be right, Mentally, I’m much older, for reasons, but Sly… Sly is still just eight, physically and mentally. He’ll need time, and help. I can give the help while the time part takes care of itself… speaking of, gotta find a pocket watch somewhere.

”Well...first up, better meet Bentley.” I thought to myself as I started heading towards Bentley carefully, not wanting to spook the turtle.

As I walked up to them, I noticed Bently was looking between a book and a notebook stuffed with notecards, sticky notes, and other papers.

“Hello?” I asked politely in such a way that wouldn’t spook the turtle in the middle of his work like when I said something to Twilight when she was in ‘research mode’.

“Huh?” Bently said, turning and looking at me. “Oh, hi there. You’re the new kid, the one that came with his brother right?”

“Yep, the names Kite. Murray told me your name is Bentley correct?” I asked, before looking over the notes quickly.

“Oh, yeah. I help him with school work and he keeps the Rat Gang off my back. Most of the time Murry is quite timid, but he has his brave moments, and against Pepper that’s a life saver for me. I swear that rat has a vendetta against me… I mean a Grudge.” Bently tried to quickly correct his wording from advanced lingo to common lingo.

“It’s alright, I know what you mean.” I said with a raised hand. “Book’s are a wonderful thing when you have the time.”

“Agreed. So what brings you here, to my corner of solitude.” Bently said, showing that his corner indeed was just him.

“Oh you know, not wanting to be over at the corner of doom over there.” I said, motioning to the Rat Gang. “Plus...well I was curious as to what you were doing.” I said, Bentley knowing full well I was just trying to give another reason besides ‘I need a friend’.

“Oh, just some self studying. The classes we get here are only four hours a day, after that we’re free so if any adults come by and are looking they can actively talk to/interview us to make a choice. I study by myself as often as I can.”

“Sounds interesting.” I said honestly. “What subjects are you good at?”

“Oh you know, history, math, science, literature, been tinkering in Physics and computer sciences/robotics. Whatever I can find I read and take notes on frequently. I often head to the library a few blocks from here since they’re more well supplied than the one here.”

“Oh? Got any favorite books?” I asked curiously. “Like Sci-Fi, Fantasy, what? Cause Sci-Fi and Fantasy are always a favorite of mine.” I said, hoping to spark a good conversation with books.

“I mostly prefer non-fiction, but I did enjoy Moby Dick.”

“I’ll get that White Whale if it’s the last thing I do.” I quoted in a not half bad impression of the captain.

"Heh. So you are smarter than the average six year old. Say, since you do show higher than expected intelligence like myself, mind helping me with this?" Sitting up to the table, Bentley showed me what I, even without Admin powers recognized as code, or coding. C++, all hand written too. "I'm trying to make my own operating system for a PC I'm building out of junkyard scrap parts, and so far it's installing this but not booting."

I looked over all the notes curiously, finding his work fascinating for what a six year old can do. “Is there any specific problems with it booting up?” I asked curiously. “Like does it just suddenly shut down after installing or what?” I asked curiously, wondering what I can do to help.

"It's mostly once I try and get it to register an internet connection it just shuts down, even with offline installing a web browser, still nothing."

I hummed, looking over the dozens of notes. “So it’s booting up fine, it’s just whenever you want to make a connection or install something…” I hummed, sifting through the pages to see if there was anything amiss since, in my spare time, I decided to learn damn near anything I could about computers, even before becoming an Admin.

After a quick look over, I saw the issue in the 40,000th line of code.

“Ah, found it.” I said while putting it down and motioning to the specific line. “Notice anything wrong with it?”

"Oh. Oh! Yes I see here. So it was Device Manager miss-installing the files with the booting sequence. I'm impressed you spotted that."

“Oh it’s nothing special.” I said sheepishly, scratching the back of my head in embarrassment at the compliment.

"Well, with this fixed the orphanage can finally have its own computer for the orphans. Maybe more if it works out. Thanks Kite."

“No problem.” I nodded. “But uh...when my brother feels better...want to hang out with me and Sly? Murray told me he would join as well after he...comes back.”

"Oh, sure thing. If Murray trusts you then I do too."

“Thank you.” I nodded. “We...really need help…” I sighed out sadly.

"Sure thing."

The rest of the day was uneventful. The school session was only four hours and barely taught any of its subjects. While others were playing or just messing around, I was with Sly, who still kept pretty quiet. We were in the bedroom. Sly just laid flat on the bed.

“Big brother?” I asked him gently, hoping he’ll at least say something.

"Hm?" He said. Sorta.

I sighed out. “It’s not good for you to you to just...not do anything. You’ve barely been eating…” I said, not sure how to do this properly.

"Kite." He said, sitting up. "Mom and Dad are dead. We HEARD that… that thing kill mom… how can you not be like me, or worse right now?"

“Because at the moment, I want to make sure you’re eating and not fully breaking down.” I said, tears filling my eyes. “I’m younger...but I want to see my big brother happy again...it hurts so much...but I need to be strong like mommy and daddy...like you…” I said sadly. “We’re Coopers...dad told us some stories of our family...and how strong they were even in the face of danger…”

"... You're right. Right now, we aren't strong… but we can be. I have an idea. Still have Uncle M's 'rattle' bro?"

I brought it out and gently rattled it, bringing out my Thunder Cane. "Always have it on me bro. Oh also, later I want to introduce you to two kids that I'm sure you'll be fast friends with." I said with a smile.

"Huh, alright then." He said, shaking it as it turned off. He then twisted it open, showing the inside components. "M told me if something ever happened to you, me, mom or dad, just press this." He then pressed a small blue button on the circuit board, a small light bulb next to it blinking… a transmitter. "I guess now we wait." He said, closing it back up.

“Yeah, uncle M would make sure there was a way to find us in an emergency.” I said honestly.

"Not sure how long til he gets here. We'll stick together just in case. This building has two stories, right?" Sly asked me.

“Yes it does.” I nodded.

"What about a basement or attic? Crawlspace?"

“Um...pretty sure there’s an attic, basement and crawl space I’m not sure.” I said simply.

"Let's find out." He said, taking the lead. At least he had a smile. I followed, looking at the beacon in my 'rattle' as he lead us to a vent. "Dad told me all the older buildings in France had basements built for emergencies back when there were wars, the attic and crawlspace was used for storage. We gotta keep hidden until Uncle M gets here. A hideout like one of those will be perfect."

“Sounds about right.” I nodded. “And what about the two friends I want to introduce you to?” I asked curiously.

"You just met them today, how can they already be friends?" Sly asked, popping the vent cover off as he and I slid in. This vent system took us to Attic, Crawlspace, and a basement. Basement seems to have been sealed off, there's a cellar door in the far corner but it's chained from the outside. The crawlspace was neat, not much floor or light but there's plugs, and a secret door to it from the laundry room. Lastly the attic. There's a way up here from a window by climbing this big tree outside, as well as the drop ladder.

“Well we’re not friends yet, but I’m sure we’ll be great friends.” I said honestly. “They’ll remind you of two people we know.”

"How so?" Sly asked, the two of us largely pondering which of the three locations would be a better hideout. "I'm liking the attic, but the basement does have the boiler in it, so we would keep warm at night, granted the noise."

“I think the Crawlspace works out.” I brought up. “It maybe dark, but it’s next to the laundry room so we’ll keep warm, there’s plenty of plugs for things, it’s easy to get to.” I pointed out.

"And well hidden." Sly added. "We can decorate it. Wonder how though?"

“I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” I said honestly. “But one of the kids I want you to meet, Bentley the Turtle, has been taking trips to the junkyard to get stuff and make some pretty neat things. I’m sure he’ll have an idea on how to decorate it.” I said honestly. “And maybe Murray the Hippo can help carrying stuff with us...that’s the other person I want you to meet.”

"Huh. What does this Bentley build?"

“I mean, he’s the one that single-handedly invented the way our computers work.” I brought up simply. “I only pointed out a small thing he overlooked, but look at how his work been going.” I explained.

"How do you know so much about computers?"

“I don’t know much.” I lied convincingly. “I just showed him what I thought looked wrong. Trust me...he had so much work it was all confusing for me...but when something feels wrong it tends to be.”

"Fair enough." Sly said. "Stuff from the dump could be useful."

“Yep.” I nodded. “As the saying goes, one mans trash is another man’s treasure.”

A week went by, Sly opened up to Bentley and Murray, our little hide out in the crawlspace was nice.

Sly and I were at the Junkyard with Bentley and Murray, Those two off sorting through old computers and Sly and I looking at some old blankets. "Sly, Kite?!" We turned around, M stood there dressed in a lab coat.

“Uncle M!” I cheered at seeing him again. “How have you been?”

"Worried mad!" He yelped, holding us both. "I heard about… are you two living in this junkyard?"

“No, us four are in the orphanage.” I said. “That’s Bentley and Murray.” I said. “Their our friends.”

"Glad you two made friends." M said, not letting us go. "An orphanage huh? Can you two do me a favor?" M asked, kneeling down to eye level. "I need to go find Jim, it will be a few days, by then we will be back for you two. Understand?"

“Not without our friends.” I said quickly. “I don’t want to lose them...they’re helping us with…” I said sadly, M noticing Bentley talking a bunch of technical jargon while Murray was lifting up a lot of stuff that was way too heavy for any normal eight year old. “Plus...they reminded us of you and Uncle Jim.”

"Heheh. Such strong bonds, and so young. Alright. Jim and I will be back before week's end. Stay safe till then, alright?" M asked us.

“We will.” I said with a smile, hugging Uncle M happily and just glad him and Jim were still alright.

"Heh, now head off you two, you four."

M left and we met back up with Bentley and Murray, heading back to the orphanage. Along the way there we saw there was a car at the front. "Uh oh." Bentley and Murray said in unison

“What’s wrong?” I asked nervously. “Who owns the car?”

"Social Services. Means a new kid just arrived." Bentley said.

"That's not good." I said worriedly. "I...wonder who it is…" I muttered.

"Let's go see." Sly said, the four of us picking up the pace.

Once inside we saw this kid was still in the Orphanage ladies office with the social worker. We waited around the corner to see who they were.

"I...hope it's not someone we know…" I said worriedly, fearing it might be Carmalita or someone else we might have known.

As the door opened the Social Services lady thanked the Orphanage lady, leaving. The Orphanage lady was called Ms. Basil, A Beaver lady, saw her off.

"Ms. Basil…" I said politely. "What's going on?" I asked cutely and innocently, acting like a young six year old that just saw something worrying.

"Oh, we just have a new arrival Kite. She's… actually a lot like you and your broth-"

"Kite?" Part of me froze, hearing that voice that I haven't heard in a few years. Turning I could see the eleven year old Carmalita Fox, two large bags beside her in Ms. Basil's office. Her eyes teared up at seeing me, then rushed in, hugging me tight as she sobbed loudly.

Sly, seeing her, ran over, Sly and Carmalita adding to the hug that seemed to be giving Carmalita hope, cause she looked as bad as Sly did. When we first got here.

I...couldn’t stop myself before I just burst into tears and started sobbing, too much shit having gone wrong, me experiencing my parents death again, and Carmalita also being in the same position as we did? That was too much…

"I… I heard what happened on the news." Carmalita said. It was night now and she, Sly, Bentley, Murray and I were all in the crawlspace hideout. "I'm sorry."

"What… happened to your…?" Sly asked.

Giving a shaky sigh, and gulp, Carmalita spoke. "Well, dad was...was a cop. After you two vanished it was like crime in the cities just… skyrocketed. Like in those movies that show crime filled cities. Dad got sh… shot. Mom's work place caught fire in a riot."

“Oh…” I muttered. “Well it’s...better than what I feared happened to them...what happened to our parents…” I shivered slightly, still nervous about talking about it.

"News said the cities are basically falling apart. Says it's organized, all over the world. Cops and police stations globally are being targeted. Heard the US declared a nation wide Marshal law just to have pockets of states kept somewhat safe." Carmalita sighed. "I'm not the only one that's gonna be arriving here. Heard that social worker saying that they were gonna move kids here by the buses since the cities aren't safe anymore."

“They’re moving way too fast…” I said worriedly. I looked at all the people in our little hideout and sighed. “Big bro...should we tell them about...who we are?” I asked.

"I already know your Coopers." Carmalita said. "Dad told me. Heh… it's actually the main reason I wanted to play with you two at first when I was little. The Cooper's on paper of the legal system are criminals, but you protect more than you harm. That’s what dad said about you. Helping from the darkness."

"Wait, Cooper as in the legendary thieving family the Cooper's?!" Bentley said in shock.

"Holy cow… wait, so if your parents are… oh… that actually might explain these riots." Murray said. "Your family has kept the worst of the worst in the shadows for generations, and helped toss them into jail when they overstep. With your parents gone… they think there is no one to stop them."

"For now anyway." Sly sighed. "Our Uncle, M, will be here in a week to "adopt" us out of this place. Kite wants to bring you two with us. And Carmalita, that offer extends to you."

"You don't have to ask. I'm in." Carmalita said.

"Same!" Murray said.

"Most definitely." Bentley said.

“Now onto the hard bit…” I sighed out. “So while the Coopers are a good thing with keeping the actual bad guys, not criminals, bad guys down...we can only do so much outside the law, we still need the Police to actually arrest them.” I said. “Just like how mom and dad did it, cause Mom was a successful interpol agent.”

"Heh. In case you haven't noticed Kite, cops are quickly becoming a dying breed... literally." Carmalita sighed

“I know…” I sighed out. “But...what I think, is that there isn’t a proper leader, a rallying point for the police...and there’s only one person I know that can be that rallying point.” I said while looking at Carmalita. “And from what I’ve experienced...it’s you.”

"Even so, how?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Sly said. "For now, we wait for Uncle M and Uncle Jim."

“Yeah, those two will know how to help us start fixing all the problems the bad guy is causing.” I said honestly.

I was back in the sleeping worlds, my real form and all. This time Cript and I were having a nice meal. Every night we'd do something. It was a way to bond and get used to each other as spouses, given that's what we are. "So what's going on now?" Cript asked. We were both dressed quite nicely.

“Carmalita is orphaned because Clockwerk is somehow causing criminal activity to skyrocket...her father got shot, and her mother burned alive during a riot…” I sighed out. “Doctor M and McSweeny are coming to pick me, Sly, Murray Bentley and Carmalita up at the end of the week and hopefully things can start working out for us to start cleaning up the criminal activity...seriously, even with me being alive, Clockwerk shouldn’t have caused this amount of garbage to happen...”

"Hard to tell really. Each version of each world can play out differently. Doubt the Time Walkers will tell us that worlds original timeline."

“Cause of course they wouldn’t.” I sighed out. “But...let’s just hope we can learn stuff about thieving so we can start knocking down criminals...not to mention I need to find a specific law to keep me and the others from getting arrested because, even though Coopers are thieves, they have helped the police way too much.”

"Technically you're Vigilants, which is also against the law despite the good you do. If you were government sanctioned however, then you'd be able to work, funded by the law."

“Everyone keeps forgetting that ‘Good Samaritan Laws’ exist.” I said. “Unless those don’t exist where I’m at...also I...wait no, the Government would be like ‘holy shit your Coopers! We still follow the banner of Coopers!’...would be hilarious if that happened.”

"Would be, the main reason Good Samaritan law doesn't apply to the Cooper's is because while you take down bad guys, you also take their loot. Stolen loot. If you leave the loot, you'll only be Vigilant, not Thrives."

“We’re not stealing, we’re just resposesing.” I corrected.

"Lest you forget the loot you steal from master criminals is stolen from the innocent. Perhaps a Robin Good type run is the best approach."

“Sounds about right.” I nodded. “I mean, we’ll still be taking more of the important stuff for the Cooper Vault and stuff, but there will still be enough back to the people.”

"That can work. I guess."

“Either way.” I shrugged. “Let’s just...hope this all works out before anything else bad happens…”

"Well, once you catch up time wise to the present day, we'll rush over, okay?"

“Well...present day is a little weird when you think about it.” I said sheepishly. “But please...I’m gonna need a lot of help if Nexus is apart of this somehow...seriously, fully expecting Nexus because I haven’t heard or seen any other world hopping bad guy groups try to take over worlds.”

"True. So, that all aside, how's the fish? Given your biology I wasn't sure if you liked it raw or cooked so I went medium rare. Hard to pull with fish."

“Okay, even though me becoming a Dire Wolf makes it a lot easier to eat raw food, and even enjoy it, nothing beats cooked food.” I said honestly. “Also, the fish is delicious.”

"Glad. I enjoy these 'nightly' dates."

“They are nice.” I smiled warmly.

"A nice way of relaxing from a lot of the bullshit huh? Should have used the realm of sleep much sooner for relaxing."

“True...but Dream stuff is with the Foretellers and all that…” I sighed out. “So it felt like I was being rude to them even more so than me not sending them a message at least.”

"While the domain of sleep is theirs, what and how we choose to dream is not. Besides, as of the marriage on top of me already being their dad/mom you are now also their mom/dad. So we can ground them." Cript said with a chuckle.

“I’d rather not pull that even if my den mother instincts would want me to just take them all and cuddle and try to dote on them as a massive apology.” I said sheepishly.

"Heh. So, including myself you've had four sets of parents as of now, right?" Cript asked. "I've been looking into the Timeline Diane is from and so far I think I found them. Your 'first' parents."

“Diane’s parents...my parents, you and then Sly’s parents...so far three out of four have died, either by being murdered, or being Ravened…” I sighed out.

"At least they can live again, King. Perks of how I bring people back. Was the only thing I bothered learning in my less than a month of being a God of time."

“So...they can come back?” I asked. “Both Diane’s parents and...Sly’s parents?”

"Of course. I brought back yours, Eclipsa's mom from earth, Eclipsa from the timeline she died in the future you is from. All I need is the timeline and I can bring back anyone. The only rule is that it has to be within ten seconds before they died. So when I brought your dad from earth back I spammed the healing spells."

“Yeah...that makes sense.” I said, still glad to have my parents back and...honestly know they are proud of me again.

"They always have been. So, Lord and I began working on the Supercharged version of Second Chance and mixing it with the Humanity blades power. After than a large ass use of code will gather up the new babies. Instant world peace."

“Hooray.” I said warmly. “World peace is nice.”

"After that, I'll call in my favor. And things really get started."

“Things are...really speeding up.” I said worriedly.

"Yes and no. If, and they will, go as expecting, we'll have a fuck tone of time. It will also royaley piss off Vincent and his True Nexus."

“And if I know anything, pissing off those people are very needed and enjoyable.” I said honestly.

"Truer words have never been spoken before." Cript laughed. "So, wanna know my plan? Assuming you don't already know cause you break the fourth wall."

“I don’t break the fourth wall when you come up with this. I just use deductive reasoning and a healthy dose of guessing.” I said simply. “But mind telling me what your plan is?”

"To make a long story short, I'm gonna fuse all the different timelines, then shatter time."

“Wait...isn’t that what you wanted to do before?” I asked curiously.

"Sorta. Fusing the timelines, yes, breaking time. That's the new part."

“So...why do you want to break time itself?” I asked nervously.

"It will cause a… soft reset of reality. People and places will be the same, unaffected but time itself will be blasted back to year zero. Cycle one. Postponing the glitch event for quite a while. Plenty of time to train an army and fix our current predicament."

“Well then...that’s interesting.” I said honestly.

"It's a risk, but one that will pay off. Time takes up more space than physical reality it seems, breaking and resetting it to day one will, ironically, buy us time. At the cost of erasing history."

“Sounds simple enough.” I nodded.

"Yeah. Simple on paper. A bit harder in practice."

“Everything is harder in practice.”

"At least it's a plan. Better than nothing."

“Here here.” I nodded in agreement.

"So, after this little after dinner meal, what should we do next?"

“Um...not sure.” I said honestly. “What do you want to do?”

"Dunno. We can do whatever really. Beach, spa, camping, hunt, limits the imagination."

“Wonderful.” I muttered. “Sorry if I don’t immediately say something up just...have a lot on my mind.”

"New life or something?"

“All the things happening in my new life yeah...cause in a while, I’m gonna have to tell Uncle M and Jim to adopt Carmalita as well...then I need to find all the laws that could help the Coopers not constantly have police after them...as well as having Sly 2 just not happen in general cause Neyla can go fuck herself.”

"Well, if memory serves Sly two happens mainly because the Klaww Gang steals the Clockwerk body parts. That will still happen, right?"

“That’s how it would happen, but I’m not going to let those pieces go into a goddamn museum, seriously who the hell puts a mechanical owl’s corpse parts in a god damn museum?”

"To be fair he is damn near what, half a million years old and successfully changed his body from flesh to metal and machines before any kind of modern means even the idea? It would make sense for his corpse to be in a museum as both a fossil and a historical wonder. Besides, Sly two patches the way for Sly three, so it does have to happen."

“Damn it…” I grumbled. “I don’t like that...I really don’t.” I sighed out. “So...all four games have to happen no matter what I do, huh?”

"Pretty much. So, stressed?"

“A little.” I sighed out. “But...there’s at least some things I can do to make the impact...less harsh I suppose…”

"True… so… in respect of taking things slow, wanna cuddle?"

“Please.” I said while grabbing Cript and turning into my feral form and cuddling up to him. “I need cuddles…”

They gave a laugh, our dinner area shifted into a nice bedroom where we kinda spooned, Cript being the small spoon. "This is kinda weird for the two of us huh? You and I typically get into relationships fast with others, and we're taking it slow with each other."

“Mostly because we both don’t...really know what to do half the time with each other.” I said honestly.

"Our relationship is kinda weird like that. Ironic since…"

“Ironic since…?” I asked curiously.

"You… aren't the first child adopted in/born in when we did that thing to return your soul, who became a spouse. Not even the second actually."

“Well...I mean, my future self said it was a common thing when she came from.” I said honestly.

"I know, but it's kinda awkward for me."

“Listen, I had to get used to that when I married the Queen and Princess of the Yaks...have I mentioned how big and fluffy Yak’s asses are?” I asked honestly. “Cause seriously...they gave Celestia and Pinkie a run for their money.”

"That's some fluff. Course given my… location I'm pondering on who cuddles better, you or Den."

"Well cuddles are nice." I said honestly. "No matter who it is."

"True. Though am I even fun to cuddle? I've edited this new form to look… less demonic but I still look weird, right?"

Cript did edit that new form they're stuck in now that they can't hold back power. Taking a more female form, they are less tall, slimmer, wings shrunk and look almost cosmetic but they can grow them at will. Their crazy arm thing looks normal or tentacles like with bone hand and such at will. They still have three eyes, and an almost dark elf look to them, and while their hair is the same color they keep it at a shortcut, just above the shoulders.

“Well...you look better.” I said honestly. “And cuddles are nice...I was about to say ‘no matter who you are’ but some people and things don’t deserve cuddles.”

"Some, yeah." Cript sighed, moving more into my breasts/embrace. "We'll have to act fast once soft resets. Cause after it breaks, Everyone who has ever lived or was going to live will appear in the present time, including past and future versions of us. Downside to breaking time."

“Oh...that’s not good.” I said worriedly. “That is...a lot of not good the more I think about it.”

"Yeah, no kidding." Cript sighed. "Lord and the time walkers will work on a way for second chance to affect these… displaced time versions of us, future and past, but they don't think all of them will be caught in Second Chance's sweep, most though. 97% hit, the remaining 3% is still a wildcard factor though, no idea who will be in that 3%."

“Sounds simple enough.” I shrugged. “Better than nothing I suppose.”

"Hopefully." Cript sighed, pressing further against me. "Sorry if I'm getting too close or something, when Den and I do this she's typically on top of me, and I'm kinda used to that already. Always liked having some weight one when sleeping."

“When you live with a lot of women...you tend to like having them on top.” I chuckled. “But it’s alright, whatever makes you comfortable.”

"So, what was your first, well, time in a relationship like? All I know is that you started with Luna and Twilight and it just grew from there."

“Given that Luna and Twilight were the only time I was ever in a relationship...I’d say it was nice.” I said honestly. “Too bad it was filled with me being cripplingly depressed half the time.”

"Well, now it's only sarcasm and slight hints of narcissism." Cript laughed, now taking a front leg of mine and hugging it like a body pillow. The size difference between us with me in feral form was indeed that big. "Sleeping in the sleeping realm, feels like that should be impossible huh?"

“It does...but for people who just like to sleep it is a miracle.” I chuckled.

"Heck yeah."

The week went by quickly. Uncle M and Uncle Jim came by to take us out of here, it took all our skill and will power… to not laugh. Jim in crossdress looks like Mrs Doubtfire. That voice was a close match too. When it was over, Sly, Bentley, Murray, Carmalita and I were on a private plane flown by M to KaneIsland. "We have a nice house and such a set up for you kids." M said.

“Really?” I asked curiously. “But where are we heading?” I asked, pretending not to know anything about Kane island.

"It's a secret location that's been known primarily by your family and a select few others, Like Jim and I, for generations. Kane Island. The secret hiding place of every Cooper's loot and biggest scores throughout your family history Kite, Sly."

"It's also the perfect place to hide you two til you're of age." Jim added.

“So...we’re going to learn to be like daddy and you two?” I asked cutely, wide eyes filled with stars of wonder as I genuinely found the task of learning to become a Cooper was exciting.

"As best we can." M said sadly. "We're no Cooper's. But we can teach you what we know from our time… watching your father."

“And you can teach Murray, Bentley and Carmalita stuff as well? More to your skills?” I asked, M and Jim having noticed the similarities in their skill sets with the young hippo and turtle, and Carmalita could use some training that they saw from mom.

"Most definitely."

"M, Jim… Do you know who killed Mom and Dad?" Sly asked, instantly making all of us silent.

"...Yes." M said hesitantly.

"Good. We'll know who to go after then."

“Not yet.” I said to Sly. “They’re very dangerous...it’ll take us a long time before we’re ready.” I said, Jim and M remembering about my little adorable stunt as an infant when they were talking about going into hiding years ago.

"I know that bro. I know."

The island was nice. Looked just like the games, only less military and fortified and more a lush uninhabited island. There were several cabins all built one for each. Even Sly and I got our own cabins. They had some food stuff and thankfully M had the Foresight to set up a salt water purifier for plumbing and such and even a farm with veggies, and… animals? Huh, normal cows and such exist here. Then again dad's favorite pizza was sausage and Pepperoni. So… nice. There were other cabins, storage, school house/planning room, workshop, supply room, bathrooms, with Carmalita being the only girl who got her own private one, showers included, and various other cabins for many uses. Even a special underground training area, reminding me of the one for tutorials on Sly 3. "And that still didn't make a dent in your father's trust fund for us." M said.

“How much money did daddy have?” I asked in honest surprise, even though we’re coopers the lion’s share normally went into the vault.

"Your father thought that for our help and friendships, every time we scored anything, big or small, we'd split the wealth. To our surprise though, after… After he died we were approved by members of the Swedish Underground, Bakes for thieves. Your father left Jim and I sixty million even between us, and you two were left something as well when you both turn eighteen, but he kept his biggest wealths in the vault, as Cooper Tradition dictates." M said. "We got enough to live here comfy forever, but comfort is for suckers, we're Cooper's, by honor and by blood." M said, looking at Sly and I with a smile.

"We're not sure how much he left you two, guess you'll have to find out once you're old enough." Jim said.

“I hope we can live up to dad.” I said, hoping to be just as good as dad and all the other coopers.

"We will bro. Even better." Sly said.

"So, how did you get all this stuff here if I may ask?" Bentley asked.

"A friend in the Russian Nobility, he owed us a favor. We bought the supplies and he bought the submarine." Jim answered.

"Submarine?" Carmalita asked.

With a nod, Jim pulled out a set of car keys, clicking them as across in the ocean, the water broke open, a large submarine emerging from the water rises up. "It's special for transporting cargo secretly, cloaking and can hold a lot of stuff, and for it's size it's fast too."

"Then why did we fly here?" Murray asked.

"I am… claustrophobic." M said shamefully.

“That’s fine. Your a Mandril, your race enjoy’s wide open spaces and forests right?” I asked. “At least, that’s what a biology book I found at the library said.”

"Speaking of, we also have a library, but that is in the vault." M said. "But yes, among my race Claustrophobia is a common fear."

“And the vault is where?” I asked curiously, looking around curiously as there’s been many mentions of a vault yet I haven’t seen it.

"Atop that mountain." M said, pointing to the only mountain on the island. "We'll show you it later. For now, go check out your Cabins, there's plenty to decorate and mess with."

“Alright.” I nodded with a smile before running off to the cabin, wondering what is inside the Cabins if anything was in there, or to see how big it was.

I ran up to the cabin with my name on it. Like the others it was two stories, wood and bamboo walls with a straw ceiling. Inside was more modern looking than the outside. It had a small kitchen area with a living room and a small bathroom on the bottom. The second story had a bed already… toys… familier…

"We kept all the old receipts." I turned around, seeing Mcsweeny at the stairway. "Got as many as we could find from your old room.”

“Really?” I gasped in surprise. “That’s...amazing.” I said happily. “Thanks Uncle Jim.”

"Hey, you're the reason your dad, M and I even were still a team."

“Really?” I asked. “But...what about mom and big brother?” He asked nervously.

"I'm not going to lie. Your mother did test him, patience wise. Their little back and forth play was tolerable but once Sly was on the way he went full dad mode, driving us crazy. Almost left the team when he was born. But then your mom had you, and he was worried about protecting you two and if there was enough about how to raise two kids as Cooper's. So, he stuck around, for advice and for fun. Stealing was his mental vacation from his irrational fears."

“Okay.” I nodded innocently. “I hope I can help like I wanted to...before this…”

"You will. World is going to hell, but you and the others will be the ones to put out the fires."

I smiled while shaking my rattle and turning it into my Cane. “Just like daddy and you and Uncle M.” I said happily.